Hyderabad were asked to bat first after losing the toss, where two southpaw batters, Sharma and Travis Head, started the SRH’s innings. In the second over of the innings, Abhishek Sharma got out while playing a loose shot that made SRH lose their first wicket at the start of the innings.
Ravichandran Ahswin said, “ Sharma needs to pay attention”
Abhishek Sharma opened the innings alongside Travis Head but failed to make an impact, getting out for just seven runs off eight balls in the second over against Jacob Duffy. Looking to counter-attack after a slow start, he attempted to hook a surprise bouncer but could only manage a top edge, which was safely caught by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma. Meanwhile, Travis Head was dismissed in a similar fashion, leaving SRH two wickets down for 23 runs in the power play.
Ravichandran Ashwin: SRH Batter Should Start reading the wickets before attacking
After the match, Ashwin shared a video on his YouTube channel, where he was seen criticising Hyderabad opening batter Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head for not utilising the powerplay well. On this, the former Indian cricketer said he needs to pay attention to the crease and wait for some time to assess the pitch before blazing the bat.
“SRH lost both the powerplays. Batting first is always good for SRH. There was a lot of disappointment here because Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma didn’t read the wicket very well,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“The ball will move around a bit at the Chinnaswamy because there is some moisture in the wicket. If they had taken a bit more time, even if they were 45 or 50-1 in six overs, they would have ended up making a bigger score,” Ashwin said.
“No matter how much SRH would have scored, I feel it wouldn’t have been enough. SRH’s powerplay bowling is looking quite weak,” Ashwin added.
Sunrisers Hyderabad slipped to 29/3 in the fifth over as Duffy struck again to dismiss Nitish Kumar Reddy. Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen then counterattacked, taking on debutant Abhinandan Singh to push the score to 49/3 by the end of the powerplay.
I know where to bowl Abhishek Sharma – Ravichandran Ashwin
Concluding the video, Ashwin said, I know where to bowl Abhishek Sharma. I actually had a full package that, if a bowler bowls in that area, he will get him out in the first over. Abhishek’s low score of stint is still continued in the IPL after a below-average performance in the T20 World Cup. He also said that if he does not improve, he will keep getting out like this.
“I had made a package, telling where to bowl to Abhishek Sharma and just as I was discussing that, he got out. I am a big fan of Abhishek Sharma, but he has to pay attention to all of this,” Ashwin said.
After losing their first game, Sunrisers Hyderabad would try to make a comeback in the second game, which has been scheduled against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on 2nd March, 2026.
Also read: SRH suffer huge blow! Daniel Vettori confirms another overseas pacer injured amid crisis
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