In a cruel turn of events, Sunrisers Hyderabad's playoff hopes were crushed as rain had the final say on Monday during Match 55 of IPL 2025 against Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
With Delhi Capitals managing a meager 134, SRH never even got the chance to start their chase, as constant rain led to the abandonment of the game.
The two teams were awarded a point each, but the result pushed SRH into official elimination, as they fell out of the playoffs contention. They became the third team to be eliminated this year, after the routes of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
It was a sour end to the day's play for SRH, especially after Pat Cummins bowled one of the best spells in the season so far. After choosing to field after winning the toss, Cummins started proceedings in the optimal manner with the very first delivery of the match, a back-of-a-length ball that jagged away and clipped the edge of Karun Nair's bat. Ishan Kishan, as a substitute for Heinrich Klaasen at wicket-keeping duties, took a sharp catch to send Nair walking.
Cummins' brilliance did not end there as he sent Faf du Plessis walking, adjusting his length smartly after noticing the veteran batter stepping forward. Faf's nonexistent flick attempt behind the leg side managed a bottom edge that went to Kishan for the third time in succession. Cummins then sent back Abishek Porel into the dugout with a soft leading edge off a ball holding up on the surface, leaving Delhi Capitals in a desparate 19 for 3.
Although Cummins did not directly take each wicket, his pressure was evident. Axar Patel attempted a counterattack but was caught out by a quicker slower ball by Harshal Patel, which decelerated on the pitch. Cummins, who was standing at mid-off, was quick to backpedal and caught a stunning one-handed catch.
Jaydev Unadkat joined the party next, sending K.L. Rahul packing off one of his deliveries, with Kishan taking yet another top-class catch—his fourth in the innings. This was an IPL record first as the first time the top four batsmen of a team were dismissed caught by the wicketkeeper in one innings.
Delhi was in shambles at 29 for 5 in the eighth over. Despite attempts at stabilizing the innings by Tristan Stubbs and debutant Vipraj Nigam, the stand was broken in disarray when a confusion left both batters at the same end. Nigam was run out while Stubbs was let off.
Ashutosh Sharma, the Impact Player who replaced Porel, played a valiant knock, using his feet solidly and striking two sixes against Zeeshan Ansari. His 41 off 28 balls at a desperate pace gave Delhi something to bowl at, as they posted 133 for 7 from their 20 overs. But Stubbs couldn't increase the tempo, with strokeplay being difficult on the pitch.
Even as SRH looked set to target a within-reach score, the weather broke with a drizzle turning into a heavy rain shower that left the outfield soggy. None of the effort by the ground staff could be enough to make the umpires cancel 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)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abandoned due to rain.
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