Decoding Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL 2024 campaign in stats
Sunrisers Hyderabad finished as runners-up in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The Orange Army lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in a one-sided final clash on Sunday in Chennai. Meanwhile, SRH played an entertaining brand of cricket this season. They also registered several individual and team records. Notably, SRH played their first IPL final since 2018. Let's decode their campaign in IPL.
SRH fell short of glory
SRH finished second in the final team standings with eight wins and five defeats (NR: 1). They claimed 17 points at a healthy NRR of +0.414. While Pat Cummins's men suffered a humiliating defeat against KKR in Qualifier 1, they eventually earned a final berth by thrashing Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. However, SRH couldn't pose a challenge against KKR in the ultimate encounter.
Stunning show from openers
SRH were powered by their openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. While the former made 567 runs at 40.50, the latter scored 484 runs at 32.27. Abhishek (204.22) and Head (191.55) had the top-two strike rates among batters with 350-plus runs this year. They added the second-most runs in partnership this year (691 at a stunning run rate of 13.46). '
SRH recorded the top-two highest powerplay totals
Notably, the league stage of IPL 2024 saw SRH compile the top-two highest powerplay scores in the history of the cash-rich league. While they recorded 125/0 in the game against Delhi Capitals, the 2016 champions were 107/0 at the six-over mark against Lucknow Super Giants. KKR previously held the highest powerplay total in IPL, 105/0 versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017.
Highest run rate in powerplay
As per ESPNcricinfo, SRH had the best run rate in powerplay this year (11.17). They breached the 80-run mark in powerplay on four occasions this season. The Sunrisers were also the only team to hammer 50-plus powerplay sixes (59). Meanwhile, Head's tally of 402 powerplay runs in IPL 2024 is the second-most for a batter in a season.
Most sixes by an Indian in a season
Abhishek smashed the most sixes this season (42). No other Indian has tallied even 40 maximums in an IPL edition. Virat Kohli trails the youngster with 38 sixes apiece in 2016 and 2024. Meanwhile, the SRH southpaw overall recorded the sixth-most sixes by a batter in a year in IPL. Meanwhile, Head hit the most fours in IPL 2024 (64).
Other key batters for SRH
Heinrich Klaasen was SRH's stand-out performer in the middle order. He compiled 479 runs while striking at 171.07. He smoked the joint second most sixes in the season (38). Nitish Kumar Reddy (303 runs at a strike rate of 142.92) was the only other SRH batters with 300-plus runs. He was even named the Emerging Player of the Tournament.
Three 250+ totals for SRH
Eight of the nine highest IPL totals were recorded in 2024. Notably, SRH occupy three of the top four spots in this regard. SRH became the first side to post three 250+ totals in an IPL season (287/3 vs RCB, 277/3 vs MI, and 266/7 vs DC). This includes the highest-ever total in franchise cricket. Meanwhile, KKR's 272/7 against DC holds the third place.
An uncanny run-chase for SRH
In Match 57 against Lucknow Super Giants, Abhishek and Head helped SRH chase down 166 in just 9.4 overs. SRH broke their own record to register the highest total after first 10 overs (IPL). Before this, SRH posted 158/4 against DC and 148/2 against MI after 10 overs in the same season. SRH beat LSG with 62 balls to spare, the most in IPL.
How did the bowlers perform?
T Natarajan was SRH's highest wicket-taker with 19 scalps (ER: 9.05). Cummins's tally of 18 wickets was the second-most for a captain in an IPL season (ER: 9.27). Veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar managed 11 scalps (ER: 9.35). Mayank Markande (8), Jaydev Unadkat (8), and Shahbaz Ahmed (7) were the other key wicket-takers for the Orange Army.
