‘Batters don’t respect bowlers anymore’, says Muralitharan on SRH’s easy chase vs MI
Sunrisers Hyderabad continued to thrive in the high-scoring landscape of IPL 2026, chasing down a daunting total with authority, as assistant coach Muttiah Muralitharan pointed to a dramatic shift in batting approach across teams.
SRH successfully hunted down a target of over 200 with composure, powered by a blazing start in the powerplay and sustained aggression through the middle overs. Its openers laid the perfect platform, racing to nearly 80 in the first six overs — a trend that has become increasingly common this season — before the middle order ensured there were no late hiccups in the chase.
Reflecting on the game and the broader trend, Muralitharan admitted that bowlers are finding it tougher than ever to contain batters in the modern T20 setup.
“It is very difficult for a bowler nowadays. Every team’s openers don’t fear losing wickets. The average score has now gone up from 40 for one to eighty in six overs, that’s why the scores are going beyond 200,” he said in the post-match press conference.
SRH’s chase was calculated from the outset, with the team backing its knowledge of conditions. “We knew how the wicket would play, and chasing would be easy,” Muralitharan added, highlighting the clarity in the side’s approach.
The Sri Lankan legend also underlined the fearless mindset of contemporary batters, noting that reputation no longer guarantees restraint. “The batters are in top form, and they don’t respect any bowler, even if it is someone like Bumrah,” he remarked.
With another clinical chase under its belt, SRH reinforced its reputation as one of the most dangerous batting units this season — a side perfectly in tune with the evolving, high-risk, high-reward nature of T20 cricket.
Published on Apr 30, 2026
