Kevin Pietersen Critiques Sunrisers Hyderabad's Bowling Performance in IPL 2026

Original: 'SRH will hit 400 against their own attack': Hyderabad bowlers torn apart after poor start to IPL

The Times Of India•Apr 6, 20262 min

In a Nutshell

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen criticized the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowling attack, suggesting they would have conceded 400 runs had they faced their own lineup during their first IPL 2026 match. Despite a win against Kolkata Knight Riders, SRH's performance remains inconsistent as they prepare to face Punjab Kings.

Key Points

01Kevin Pietersen labeled SRH's bowling as among the worst in IPL history.
02SRH scored 201 runs in their opening match but lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in just 15.4 overs.
03The team won their second match against Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs.
04SRH lost a close match to Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets, with early wickets affecting their performance.
05SRH currently ranks fifth in the IPL 2026 points table with one win from three matches.

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Full Summary

In a recent interview, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen criticized the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowling performance, claiming it was among the worst he has seen in the Indian Premier League (IPL). During their first match of the IPL 2026 season against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), SRH scored 201 runs, but RCB chased down the target in just 15.4 overs, led by Virat Kohli's 69 runs off 38 balls and Devdutt Padikkal's 61 runs off 26 balls. SRH's bowlers struggled, with four of them having an economy rate exceeding 11 runs per over. Although SRH rebounded to win their second match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 65 runs, they faced a setback in their latest game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), losing by five wickets. Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan acknowledged that early wickets put pressure on the batting lineup and emphasized the need for improvement. Currently, SRH sits at fifth place in the points table, with their next match against Punjab Kings scheduled for April 11 in New Chandigarh.

Key Figures

201

Runs scored by SRH in their first match

15.4

Overs taken by RCB to chase down SRH's target

65

Runs by which SRH won against KKR

5

Wickets by which SRH lost to LSG

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Why It Matters

The inconsistency in SRH's performance may affect fan support and attendance at upcoming matches, as well as their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

Who is affected

SRH fans, players, and stakeholders in the franchise.

What to know

Fans should continue to support the team, while management may need to reassess strategies to improve performance.

FAQ

He claimed that SRH's bowling was among the worst he has seen in IPL history and suggested they would have scored 400 runs if they faced their own attack.

SRH has won one match and lost two, currently ranking fifth in the points table.

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