MATCH STORY
Follow UsRahul Tripathi has been one of the most underrated batters in the Indian Premier League (IPL). You can sense it by his record. In the 2022 season, he scored 413 runs, the second-most for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He averaged 37.6 at a strike rate of 155.6.
Yet, when things did not click for him and the team in the 2023 season, his first bad season in several years, he was dropped from the XI. Mind you, he was still the second-highest run-scorer for the side in the season, scoring 273 runs this time, averaging 22.8 at a strike rate of 128.2.
Cut to 2024. Tripathi scored 20 off 20 balls in the first match of the season for SRH. Hyderabad lost by four runs and Tripathi was dropped. Throughout the tournament, SRH didn’t find stability at number three, changing between Aiden Markram and Anmolpreet Singh, and even bringing Mayank Agarwal back in the side. However, Tripathi was dumped for six games after his 11 off 18 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Chandigarh.
When none of them hit form, SRH brought Tripathi back for their last league game. And third time was the charm for Tripathi, as he was back to his older self when SRH needed it the most.
In the last league game against PBKS in Hyderabad, SRH lost Travis Head early in a run chase of 215. Tripathi, in at three, ensured that he matched Abhishek Sharma shot for shot in a knock of 33 off 18 balls. In a 72-run stand with the left-hander which brought Hyderabad back in the game, Tripathi was the senior contributor with his quickfire 33. Abhishek then carried on to score 66 off 28 balls.
Come Qualifier 1, SRH had another poor start. This time they lost both their openers for basically nothing. Tripathi not only absorbed the pressure but also scored 55 off 35 balls before getting run out in a brain fade of a call with Abdul Samad. But despite the silly dismissal, Tripathi justified his comeback and even made it clear that he shouldn’t have been benched for the duration he was.
In Qualifier 2 on Friday (May 24), the 33-year-old once again showcased why he fits the bill at three for SRH more than any other batter. Again, walking into bat after an early wicket (Abhishek Sharma out in the first over), Tripathi carried the tough job with seamless efficiency.
While Head struggled to get going at the other end in his characteristic manner, Tripathi hammered 37 runs off 15 balls within the powerplay itself, preventing Hyderabad from getting bogged down. He struck five fours and two sixes in his brief stay at the crease.
He sent Ravichandran Ashwin’s rhythm into disarray, scoring 22 off the eight balls he faced against the off-spinner. He first lofted a full-length delivery from Ashwin over mid-off making room. Anticipating a flatter delivery on the next ball, the right-hander stood still to execute a late cut to perfection. Tripathi then shuffled across only to tonk a rare full toss from Ashwin for a six. By this time, SRH were 44/1 in 3.4 overs.
Ashwin was brought on to tackle Head, but instead, he found Tripathi, who put SRH’s innings back on track.
In that regard, Tripathi’s intent gels with SRH’s aggression. SRH have batted with the objective of batting the opposition out of the game. Tripathi, since his return, has batted the same way, scoring 125 runs at a strike rate of 183.8. On all three occasions since his comeback to the side, Hyderabad have lost an early wicket but Tripathi hasn’t let the run rate down.
Of course, when one is going at such high speed, he is bound to get off the road at vital moments. That is the only thing Tripathi would regret. In Qualifier 1, he was run out when well set. Today, he upper-cut a slower ball from Trent Boult straight to the short third-man fielder. The reaction on Tripathi’s face told the story. He went back to the dressing room, shaking his head. He wanted to carry on, and so did Hyderabad.
However, for Tripathi, the positives overshadowed the disappointment as he had done his job by the time he walked back to the pavilion.
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