Pat Cummins Gets Candid After SRH’s Batting Blitz Stuns RCB
What does Pat Cummins fear most in the IPL? Turns out, it’s not the opposition, but his own batters. No one expected the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain to openly admit he wouldn’t want to bowl against his own teammates. But after SRH steamrolled Royal Challengers Bangalore by 42 runs, even the fearless Aussie fast bowler had to speak his mind. “I would not like to bowl to such batsmen,” Cummins said, nodding towards the long SRH batting order that smashed 231 for 6. With relentless stroke play, they made the Chinnaswamy stadium look tiny.
SRH’s innings had everything. A rapid start, middle order muscle, and finishers who didn’t blink. Players like Tristan Stubbs came alive with a swift unbeaten 41, while Ashutosh Sharma—already known for his heroics rescuing Delhi in earlier matches—again displayed why teams dread him in the death overs. This firepower left even their own captain shaking his head in amazement. "These guys work hard, hit hard, and make life pretty hard for bowlers. No matter who you are," Cummins chuckled in the post-match conference.
SRH Win Big, But Penalties and Playoff Woes Linger
The party didn’t come without some sour notes. SRH, for all their dominance, were already out of playoff contention before the game even started. It hurts fans to see such performances come too late in the tournament. On the other hand, RCB’s playoff ambitions took a major blow. They were hoping for a win to stay ahead in the points table race but got punished for lackluster bowling and fielding.
The match also had a financial sting. Cummins received a ₹12 lakh fine after SRH was found guilty of a slow over-rate—their first such violation this season. But it was RCB's Rajat Patidar who really felt the pinch, getting slapped with a ₹24 lakh fine due to a repeated over-rate infringement. Those numbers may make headlines, but on-field tempo remains a major headache for franchises and fans alike, since it disrupts the rhythm of T20 cricket.
Regardless of fines or playoff math, what stood out most was the confidence of the SRH camp. The team, led by Cummins, may have missed their playoff shot this year, but their batting sent a message. Nobody in the IPL wants to bowl to Hyderabad’s top order next year—possibly not even their own skipper.
