Could Rain Have Cost Sunrisers Hyderabad Their Playoff Dreams in IPL 2025?

Hyderabad, May 5 (NationPress) The playoff aspirations of Sunrisers Hyderabad were tragically dashed as rain played a pivotal role during Match 55 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday.

With the Delhi Capitals having set a modest target of 134, the home team was never given the chance to initiate their chase as relentless rainfall led to the game's eventual abandonment. Both teams ended up sharing a point, but the outcome was disastrous for SRH, who are now officially out of the playoff race.

They became the third team to exit contention this season, joining the ranks of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals on the sidelines.

It was a disappointing conclusion to the night for Pat Cummins and his squad, especially after the Australian captain delivered one of his most impressive spells of the season.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Cummins struck with the very first ball of the match – a perfect back-of-a-length delivery that seamed away just enough to find the outside edge of Karun Nair’s bat. The delivery showcased Test match quality, and Ishan Kishan, stepping in for Heinrich Klaasen, took a sharp catch behind the stumps.

Cummins returned in his next over to outsmart Faf du Plessis with an astute change in length after noticing the veteran batter advancing. Faf’s miscalculated attempt to hit the ball leg-side resulted in a bottom edge to the keeper.

When Cummins dismissed Abishek Porel shortly after – a soft leading edge off a delivery that held up slightly on the surface – Kishan completed his third catch of the evening, leaving Delhi Capitals gasping at 19 for 3.

Although Cummins was not directly responsible for every wicket, his influence and pressure were undeniable. When Axar Patel attempted to counterattack, he fell victim to a deceptive slower ball from Harshal Patel that held on the pitch. Cummins, alert at mid-off, managed to backpedal and take a brilliant one-handed catch.

Jaydev Unadkat then joined the action, going around the wicket to K.L. Rahul and convincing him to edge one. Kishan took another exceptional catch — marking his fourth of the innings — creating IPL history as the first instance of a team's top four being dismissed caught by the wicketkeeper in a single innings.

Delhi, reeling at 29 for 5 in the eighth over, sought some stability through Tristan Stubbs and debutant Vipraj Nigam. However, their 33-run partnership was anything but smooth and ended in chaos as a mix-up left both batters at the same end. Stubbs survived; Nigam was out.

Enter Ashutosh Sharma — the Impact Player replacing Porel, who played a courageous knock under pressure. He confidently used his feet, launching Zeeshan Ansari for a couple of clean sixes before adding quick runs off Harshal Patel and Eshan Malinga. His 41 off 28 balls provided Delhi Capitals with a target to defend, helping them post 133 for 7 from their 20 overs. Stubbs, however, struggled to shift gears as the pitch made scoring challenging.

Just as SRH geared up for what seemed to be a manageable chase, the skies opened up. What began as a light drizzle escalated into a heavy downpour that soaked the outfield, leaving the ground staff scrambling with super-soppers. Despite their brave efforts, umpires were compelled to abandon the match.

Brief scores:

Delhi Capitals 133/7 in 20 overs (Ashutosh Sharma 41, Tristan Stubbs 41; Pat Cummins 3-19, Jaydev Unadkat 1-13) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad. Match abandoned due to rain.