“He has been a huge failure in the playoffs” – Ex-India skipper tears into Abhis – Kris Srikkanth Criticizes Abhishek Sharma Following SRH Playoff Exit

The Playoff Struggles Continue for Sunrisers Hyderabad

The IPL 2026 Eliminator at the New Chandigarh Stadium proved to be a night of heartbreak for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fans. Facing a daunting target of 244 runs against the Rajasthan Royals, the Sunrisers collapsed under pressure, ultimately falling to a 47-run defeat. While the entire team struggled to find rhythm in the high-stakes run chase, the spotlight has fallen heavily on opener Abhishek Sharma, whose early departure set a disastrous tone for the innings.

Kris Srikkanth’s Harsh Assessment

Former Team India captain and renowned analyst Kris Srikkanth did not mince his words when discussing the performance of the SRH batting lineup. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth specifically targeted Abhishek Sharma, labeling him a consistent failure when it matters most in the playoffs.

“Abhishek Sharma has always failed in the playoffs. He has been a huge failure in the playoffs. That has been SRH’s problem since 2024,” Srikkanth stated. The statistics appear to back this harsh assessment, as the left-hander has managed only 17 runs across four IPL playoff appearances, resulting in a meager average of just 4.25.

A Tactical Disarray

Beyond the individual failure of the openers, Srikkanth questioned the tactical decisions made by the SRH leadership during the crunch match. The former opener was particularly perplexed by the decision to promote Smaran ahead of seasoned power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen. The move backfired significantly as the team lost four key wickets within the first five overs.

“I am not sure why they sent Smaran ahead of Klaasen. Was Klaasen not willing to play Archer, or did SRH want to send Klaasen after Archer’s opening spell finished? It was unclear what their strategy was,” Srikkanth pondered. He noted that while the team reached 50 runs by the third over, the dismissal of Ishan Kishan triggered an irreversible collapse that the team could not recover from.

Jofra Archer’s Dominance

Much of the credit for SRH’s downfall must go to Rajasthan Royals’ spearhead Jofra Archer. Archer delivered a clinical opening spell, dismantling the SRH top order by removing Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Ishan Kishan. The pressure applied by Archer made the massive run chase look impossible for the Sunrisers.

Srikkanth also directed his frustration toward Travis Head, describing his approach as reckless. “Travis Head is just blindly slogging. If Travis Head played sensibly and Kishan did not get out at that time, they would have had an outside chance. But the way SRH just blindly slog, do they think it’s so easy to just score runs?”

The veteran analyst went as far as to compare Head’s aggressive style to his own playing days, noting that the intimidation factor brought by Archer clearly rattled the Australian batter. “It was clear that Head was intimidated by Archer,” Srikkanth concluded.

Looking Ahead

The exit from the IPL 2026 playoffs raises significant questions regarding the long-term planning and squad composition of Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the team has shown promise during the league stages, their inability to handle the pressure of the postseason—characterized by the struggles of their top-order batters—remains an area that requires urgent attention.

As the tournament progresses, the Rajasthan Royals will look to carry their momentum forward, while SRH is left to reflect on another season that promised much but ended in disappointment. For fans and analysts alike, the recurring nature of these playoff collapses highlights a fundamental gap that the franchise will need to address before the next campaign.