Bengaluru, March 29 (NationPress) Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach Daniel Vettori openly addressed his team's bowling deficiencies following a significant six-wicket defeat to the reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.

Although SRH set a strong target of 201/9, bolstered by an explosive 80 from Ishan Kishan and a late surge from Aniket Verma, they were outperformed by a relentless RCB batting lineup spearheaded by Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.

Vettori acknowledged the team's inability to match RCB's performance with the ball. "We recognize where the game shifted and how formidable the RCB batting order is. We had a decent start against Salt, but we failed to maintain our best bowling standards, lacking the discipline required, which afforded many scoring opportunities to Virat and Padikkal, who played exceptionally well," he stated during the post-match discussion.

The RCB's chase was characterized by aggressive play, especially from Padikkal, whose rapid 61 off 26 balls significantly tilted the match in RCB's favor during the powerplay. Vettori emphasized how SRH missed the chance to capitalize on an early wicket.

"I felt that Padikkal's intent forced us back under pressure when we should have been in a stronger position after dismissing Salt. RCB delivered an excellent batting display, while we exhibited one of our weaker bowling performances," he noted.

With regular captain Pat Cummins absent, SRH's bowling attack struggled for consistency on a pitch that required precision. Vettori attributed the issues to execution rather than strategy.

"We learned a lot from RCB's bowling tactics—what worked and what didn’t. We discussed these insights, but we couldn't put them into practice. It’s crucial not to have a rusty performance in the IPL, especially at the start of the tournament," he explained.

"Today was indeed one of our more challenging bowling displays. Towards the end, when we reverted to our usual discipline, we began to take wickets, but we just strayed too much with our lengths. Duffy, in particular, demonstrated the correct length for this surface," the experienced New Zealand coach remarked.

SRH introduced David Payne for his debut, replacing Brydon Carse just days before the match. Although he faced challenges initially, Payne rebounded to secure two crucial wickets. Vettori acknowledged the tough situation but remained optimistic.

"We placed him in a demanding position tonight, but we believed the team balance required his bowling. By the end, his figures turned out well, demonstrating his potential to be effective even in challenging conditions," Vettori said.

Vettori also praised young spinner Harsh Dubey for his poise, particularly after taking Padikkal's wicket at a critical moment.

"Over the past year, he has excelled in both red- and white-ball formats. We were fortunate to have acquired him late last year; he could have been a hot pick in this season's auction. He is a smart bowler, and spin bowling here is a challenging task," Vettori mentioned.

"The ground is small, and the pitch can be tough, even for seasoned players like Krunal Pandya. Seeing him step up today, recognize his role, and take an important wicket is promising, though there are areas for improvement. I believe he will be a valuable asset for us this season," the Kiwi coach added.

Despite the loss, Vettori found solace in SRH's batting strength, especially the late innings contribution from Aniket, which helped surpass the 200-run mark after an initial struggle.

"We have great confidence in our batting lineup. Aniket, batting at seven, still managed to be aggressive, putting us in a position for a defendable total. We don't rely on Abhi and Trav to perform every game; we expect contributions throughout the batting unit. The depth of our top seven is impressive, and reaching 200 despite a rocky start reflects their quality," he noted.

"The batting group is confident they can adopt this aggressive style. They understand that in the modern IPL, substantial scores are critical, and they play accordingly," Vettori concluded.

Next up, SRH will face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Thursday, April 2.