IPL 2026: ‘Bowling groups have to be detailed because of how powerful batting units are,’ says SRH assistant coach Franklin

Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach James Franklin said bowling groups should have a deep understanding of batters’ aggressive scoring methods in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leveraging his argument around Pat Cummins preying on Punjab Kings’ opener Priyansh Arya’s penchant for the pull shot.

SRH skipper Cummins bluffed Arya with a bouncer outside the off-stump, knowing the latter’s preference to play the pull instead of an upper cut.

Arya fell for the trap, pulling Cummins into the hands of Eshan Malinga at deep square-leg.

“Obviously Pat Cummins and (head coach) Dan (Vettori) are very detailed, and I think you have to be detailed nowadays because of how powerful batting units are, particularly top threes, top fours of all the IPL teams and particularly in the PowerPlays,” Franklin said in the post-match press conference.

Cummins’ spell of two for 34 had a big role in SRH’s 33-run win over PBKS in their IPL match on Wednesday night.

Franklin said the SRH bowling unit’s pre-match feedback helped them devise plans for the marauding Punjab batters, who have been excellent in the chase so far in this IPL.

“I think sometimes you don’t necessarily have to bowl the ball that the field is expecting, and I think we saw the ball before that, he bowled a pretty good bounce on the same sort of line, and he obviously called the bluff a little bit, executed the same sort of delivery and created the opportunity.

“So, you know where the strengths and weaknesses are of the opposition batters; obviously, all our bowlers are well across it. So, that was the feedback that our bowling group got and obviously we used it a lot throughout the Punjab innings,” he added.

The former New Zealand all-rounder praised pacer Malinga for producing some fine spells, particularly at the death overs.

“I think he actually bowled pretty well for us at the back end of the competition, and I think you roll forward another year, he’s had that experience of playing in the IPL before. He feels part of it now, so he’s obviously come into this year’s IPL and got performances early and obviously that gives you confidence as a player.

“He’s able to have a level of consistency with how he’s been able to go about every game and execute. The different deliveries that he wants to bowl within the 24 balls that he gets in a game, and he’s obviously creating opportunities and I think he’s up near the top of the Purple Cap,” he said.

With 16 wickets, the Sri Lankan pacer currently shares the second spot in the bowling chart, with Gujarat Titans’ Kagiso Rabada.

Franklin expressed satisfaction over all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s consistent contributions with ball and bat.

“He’s confident, he’s playing really well with the bat, and then the bowling as well. He’s probably just nudged his pace up a little bit this season. He’s swinging the new ball when he’s getting that opportunity to bowl in the PowerPlay and again he’s creating opportunities.”

Published on May 07, 2026