Ishan Kishan's Destructive Beginning with SRH-Is it a Faultless Match?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) shocked the cricket fraternity by bidding for Ishan Kishan aggressively during the IPL 2025 mega auction for a record price of INR 11.25 crore (USD 1.34 million). This big signing hinted at the team wanting to enhance an already big-hitting batting squad. So how did Ishan Kishan view this strategic decision? For himself, he wanted to find out where he would be fit into a side recognized for brutal and daring batting.

A Spontaneous Call to Abhishek Sharma

The moment the auction closed, Kishan did not waste any time in calling his new SRH teammate Abhishek Sharma to get a sense of what his new team wanted from him. The answer came as direct as it was thrilling. "Do I have to run in and hit every ball?" Kishan asked. Sharma's response was terse: "On point, yeah, that is your job! Just relax in this team."

For Kishan, this simplicity of purpose was a breath of fresh air. The SRH management and captain Pat Cummins sent a very clear message to him—step out there and play fearless cricket. And that is what he did in his first SRH match against Rajasthan Royals when he smashed an unbelievable 106* off a mere 47 deliveries.

A Record-Breaking Knock

Kishan's remarkable century was not only an individual achievement but a declaration of intent by SRH. His innings propelled the team to an enormous total of 286 runs—two runs shy of the all-time record IPL total, a record SRH had themselves held.

Supporting Travis Head (85 off 38 balls) and Nitish Reddy (72 off 29 balls), Kishan played with great aggression, demonstrating that he was the ideal choice for SRH's batting ideology. His century, the third-quickest in SRH's history, put him alongside the elite company of players like Travis Head and David Warner.

In the innings, one of the team members sprinted onto the ground with refreshments and teasingly reminded Kishan and his teammates of the opportunity to break their own record of 287. Even though they went short, there was clearly hunger to create new records. "We couldn't get it today, but it is nice to have such targets for the future matches," said Kishan. "There are days, when we receive a good beginning, we shall surely push for a record score."

Kishan's transfer to SRH also involved a slight change in his batting order. Having mostly opened for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the past, he was now tasked with the No. 3 spot. But he welcomed this transition with confidence, courtesy of the open communication from his new captain and coach.

"Pat [Cummins] makes it very easy," Kishan said. "If a batsman wants to take on from the start, he supports him entirely. There's no pressure even if you get out trying to play. Such support matters a lot, particularly for young batsmen."

This philosophy was reflected in SRH's strategy, as witnessed in Aniket Verma's aggressive batting during his first game. The team environment allowed players to play without inhibition and fear of failure, something that, as Kishan said, was a major reason for their success.

Kishan's torrid beginning with SRH follows a tough season in his life. Just as the IPL 2024 season was about to begin, he was omitted from the BCCI central contract list, allegedly owing to doubts over his dedication towards domestic cricket. Instead of sitting back and whining about disappointment, Kishan chose to look ahead.

"I never allowed those incidents to go against me," he said. "I knew I needed to put in effort and deliver. Whatever the past has done is beyond my control, but what lay in my hand was the preparation for the IPL. I simply shut out all the negativity and looked ahead."

This attitude worked out, and Kishan was dedicated to them—his people, his fan base, but most importantly to his brother who was present in Hyderabad to watch him play some of the greatest innings of his life. "Playing my debut game for SRH in Hyderabad, helping me set up a big score for my team, and having family members watching me—it was really a special feeling."

A Promising Road Ahead

With his bold style of play and powerful stroke-making, Kishan has already shown himself to be a valuable commodity for SRH. His talent for anchoring an innings without sacrificing an explosive strike rate perfectly complements the team's plan for success. As the season of IPL 2025 continues, supporters can look forward to more fireworks from the left-handed batsman.

One thing is certain—Kishan is enjoying his new journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad, and if his inaugural game is anything to go by, SRH might have found the ideal match for their explosive batting unit