Coach Vettori rues home woes after Hyderabad's IPL playoff exit

AFP

Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori felt the slow pitches on their home ground did not suit their free-scoring batters after the side crashed out of the playoff race of this year's Indian Premier League.

The 2016 champions became the third team - after Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings - to be eliminated after their home game against Delhi Capitals was washed out on Monday.

Hyderabad managed three wins in 11 games and won only two of their six home matches this season.

"This year, the conditions weren't as we expected," Vettori told reporters. "If you look at last year, there were a lot of high-scoring games here.

"These surfaces in particular have been a little bit different. It has been tricky, it hasn't been easy for the batters."

Hyderabad has witnessed four 200-plus scores in 11 innings this season compared to seven times in 12 innings last year.

The slow surface has stifled Hyderabad's otherwise fiery top order including Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan.

"All we've talked about is assessing conditions, trying to read the game and understand what to do in certain situations," Vettori said of their batting approach at home. "I think the guys are innately aggressive, but certainly, this season has been about trying to establish what's been required on the day."

Hyderabad began brightly on Monday with skipper Pat Cummins wrecking Delhi's top order with a three-wicket burst and restricting them to 133-7.

It started raining before Hyderabad could begin their chase and eventually led to the abandonment.

More from Sports News

  • Brook's defiant ton in vain as New Zealand beat England

    New Zealand overcame a blitz from centurion Harry Brook to beat England by four wickets on Sunday in the opening game of their three-match one-day international series, with Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell scoring half-centuries.

  • Bencic tames Noskova to win Tokyo title

    Belinda Bencic breezed past Czech sixth seed Linda Noskova 6-2 6-3 to win the Pan Pacific Open title on Sunday, erasing bitter memories of her straight-sets defeat by Agnieszka Radwanska in the title clash of the same tournament 10 years ago.

  • We need to find answers to stop Liverpool slide, says Slot

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot said opponents have identified a winning strategy against his Premier League champions and he needs to find a solution fast after a 3-2 defeat at Brentford on Saturday made it four league losses in a row.

  • Rohit and Kohli bid likely farewell to Australia as winners

    Rohit Sharma hit a century and Virat Kohli a bright 74 to drive India to a nine-wicket win in the third one-day international on Saturday, sending fans home happy after what are likely to be their final appearances in Australia in their country's colours.

Blogs