Big Gamble or Masterstroke? SRH Drop Mohammed Shami and Nitish Kumar Reddy in Crucial Clash Against DC
Hyderabad witnessed a shocker before the first ball was even bowled. In a high-stakes do-or-die encounter of IPL 2025 between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC), the team management made some seriously bold calls. Fans were left stunned as two of SRH’s big names – Mohammed Shami and Nitish Kumar Reddy – were missing from the playing XI.
Now, when it comes to crunch matches like this, especially in front of your home crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, you expect teams to rely on their seasoned players. But SRH? They had other plans. They dropped experience for form, and that’s something you don’t often see in Indian cricket.
A Look at the New-Look SRH XI
Here’s how the Playing XI lined up for SRH:
-
Abhishek Sharma
-
Ishan Kishan (wk)
-
Sachin Baby (first match of the season)
-
Heinrich Klaasen
-
Aniket Verma
-
Abhinav Manohar
-
Pat Cummins (c)
-
Harshal Patel
-
Jaydev Unadkat
-
Zeeshan Ansari
-
Eshan Malinga
Impact Players: Travis Head, Harsh Dubey, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder, Mohammed Shami
This was a lineup that raised eyebrows. Two players – Sachin Baby and Abhinav Manohar – walked into the XI straight into the pressure cooker. Baby was getting his first chance this season, while Manohar hadn’t exactly been a regular either.
Shami: From Star to Struggler?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – Mohammed Shami’s exclusion. This wasn’t just any player sitting out. We’re talking about one of India's most experienced and dependable pacers. But here’s the harsh reality – Shami’s form has taken a serious dip this season.
-
Matches played: 9
-
Wickets: 6
-
Economy: 11.23
-
Runs conceded: 337
Yes, that’s right – he’s giving away over 11 runs per over on average! For a bowler of his calibre, these are alarming numbers. To top it off, he also bowled one of the most expensive spells in IPL history, conceding 74 runs in just 4 overs. That’s not the kind of stat you want attached to your name.
Even though head coach Daniel Vettori denied any injury concerns, the writing was on the wall. The management finally decided that it was time to take a call. Shami still featured among the impact subs, but with SRH bowling first, it looked unlikely he’d get a chance in the first innings.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Unavailable or Dropped?
Now, about Nitish Kumar Reddy – another young talent who turned heads last year by bagging the Emerging Player of the Season title. Expectations were high from him this time too. But sadly, 2025 hasn’t quite been his year.
-
Matches: 10
-
Runs: 173
-
Batting Average: 24.71
-
Bowling: Not used even once this season
His struggles with the bat meant that SRH’s middle order often lacked stability. And what’s surprising is that Pat Cummins didn’t use his bowling at all, despite Reddy showing decent skills in that department last season.
However, the real twist came post-toss when SRH’s social media handle revealed that Reddy was actually unwell, which explained his absence. So technically, he wasn’t dropped, but his dip in form certainly didn’t help his case either.
The Bigger Picture: SRH's Playoff Push
Let’s not forget, this clash was more than just a regular league match. It could define SRH’s journey to the playoffs. Going into this game, they were at a point where every match was a virtual knockout. With multiple teams fighting neck-to-neck, net run rate and momentum were everything.
In such a tight scenario, SRH management opted for a tactical shuffle, putting faith in fresh legs and hoping to catch DC off guard. Only time will tell whether this gamble pays off, but one thing’s for sure – the fans weren’t bored!
Pressure on Cummins & Co.
All eyes were now on skipper Pat Cummins, who had to marshal his troops without two of his key players. The Australian pace ace has led the side with calmness, but his leadership was truly put to the test in this match.
The fans at Uppal were roaring in anticipation. With Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan opening the innings and Heinrich Klaasen holding the fort in the middle, SRH hoped their batting firepower could make up for any bowling void left by Shami.
Key Talking Points from the SRH vs DC Showdown:
Here are a few things that fans were buzzing about before and during the match:
-
🔥 Shami’s absence – a brave move or overdue decision?
-
🤕 Nitish Kumar Reddy’s illness – unfortunate timing
-
💪 Sachin Baby’s comeback – finally gets a shot this season
-
⚔️ Playoff implications – the result could change everything
-
🧠 Vettori's strategy – experience vs. current form
-
👀 Unadkat and Harshal leading the bowling – how will they deliver?
Fan Reactions: Mixed Emotions!
As expected, fans had a lot to say on social media:
“Why drop Shami in a must-win game? He’s a big match player!”
“Glad to see Sachin Baby getting a chance. He deserved a shot!”
“Reddy’s absence is unfortunate. He had potential to bounce back.”
The debate raged on, with opinions split down the middle. But the general sentiment was that SRH had taken a big risk.
Final Word: Risk or Reward?
In tournaments like the IPL, where every game can make or break your season, sometimes bold decisions are necessary. SRH’s choice to bench Shami and go without Nitish (though unwell) shows they’re not afraid to shake things up.
It’s a high-risk strategy, but if it works out, SRH could just sneak into the playoffs and silence all critics. If it doesn’t, well... the questions will only get louder.
One thing’s for sure – IPL 2025 is serving up drama like never before. And SRH is right at the heart of it.
Login