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

Although SRH managed to set a challenging score of 201/9, bolstered by a remarkable 80-run innings from Ishan Kishan and a late flourish from Aniket Verma, they were outclassed by an impressive RCB batting line-up, spearheaded by Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.

Vettori conceded that his team fell short in their bowling execution against RCB. "We realize how critical it is to face such a formidable RCB batting order. We had a decent start against Salt, but we lacked the discipline needed with the ball, providing ample scoring chances to Virat and Padikkal, who performed exceptionally well," he stated during the post-match analysis.

The RCB chase was characterized by aggressive batting, especially from Padikkal, whose explosive 61 off just 26 balls shifted the momentum heavily in RCB's favor during the powerplay. Vettori remarked on how SRH failed to seize the opportunity after achieving an early wicket.

"Padikkal's intent immediately put us under pressure, which we should have managed better following Salt's crucial wicket. RCB's batting was outstanding, and our bowling was subpar," he assessed.

With their regular captain Pat Cummins missing, SRH's bowlers struggled to maintain control on a pitch that required precision. Vettori noted that it was a failure in execution rather than poor planning.

"We gained insights from RCB's bowling strategies regarding what worked and what didn't, but we couldn't apply those lessons. It's vital that we avoid rusty performances given the importance of every match in the IPL, especially at the start of the season," he added.

"Tonight highlighted one of our more challenging bowling displays. However, we demonstrated effectiveness late in the game when we returned to our usual disciplines. Unfortunately, we missed our lengths too frequently, with Duffy showcasing the appropriate length for this surface," the veteran from New Zealand mentioned.

SRH introduced David Payne for a late debut, stepping in for Brydon Carse just days before the match. Despite a rough start, Payne recovered to secure two important wickets. Vettori acknowledged the tough circumstances but remained optimistic.

"We placed him in a challenging position tonight, but with the team's balance, we needed that bowling option. Ultimately, his figures were commendable, proving he can thrive even in these conditions," Vettori noted.

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

"Over the past year, he's excelled in both red and white-ball formats. We were fortunate to sign him towards the end of last season; he could have been a major acquisition in this year's auction. He is a smart bowler, and spin bowling here poses a challenge, even for experienced players like Krunal Pandya. His ability to understand and execute his role effectively will make him a valuable asset this season," Vettori expressed.

Vettori drew encouragement from SRH's batting depth, highlighting Aniket's late innings that propelled the total beyond 200 despite early struggles.

"Our batting unit has a lot of confidence. Aniket, batting at seven, showed aggression, enabling us to reach a defendable total. We don't expect Abhi and Trav to perform every match; we rely on our entire batting lineup. The top seven is impressively strong, and their ability to reach 200 after a tough start illustrates their caliber," he explained.

"They understand the importance of scoring big in the IPL, where high scores dominate and are crucial," Vettori concluded.

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