Ishan Kishan and the Sunrisers Saga: A Swing, A Miss, and What Really Went Wrong

When IPL 2025 commenced, the Ishan Kishan chatter had enough volume to fill a stadium. Big bucks? Yup. Big expectations? Yup. And when Kishan belted a blistering century in the early weeks of the season, those bucks appeared to be thoroughly justified. Form dropped, questions arose, and as we reach the sharp end of the season, Kishan’s future with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) looks murkier than ever. So, what on earth happened to the pocket rocket in orange?

The Mental Maze: When Clarity Becomes Clutter

Kishan’s greatest strength has always been his courage. He has never shied away from attacking bowlers from ball one because he has that audacity that makes players of his style a hot property at the auction table. But this season, it looked like the bold attitude had been replaced with a mindset of self-doubt, overthinking, and hesitancy. After his explosive first game, Kishan had unfortunate scores of middling and poor qualities in dismissals—dismissals down the leg side, pushing early and mistiming drives to cover, and generally unexplainable shot selection that left the crowd confused.

When Kishan’s mind is cluttered, experts suggest that instead of relying on instinct, he should hesitate. He begins to second-guess his ability to see the ball and react to it. The pressure of a big price tag, high expectations, and the outside influences may have gotten him into this spiral. In short, he did not lose his ability, he lost his clarity.

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Stuck in the SRH System: A Philosophy That Didn’t Fit

The primary discussion point of SRH’s 2025 campaign has been its inflexible strategy. They had a plan and stuck to it regardless of the situation, and sadly, they did not provide too much leeway. Players like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma were able to flourish at the top of the order, so there was not as much room for guys like Kishan to display their own game.

Kishan, a natural stroke-maker, may have felt he had to adopt the attacking mindset of his fellow openers, rather than create an environment in which Kishan’s own game could flourish. This type of restriction of creative license is usually a player will feel they need to conform to the system instead of being separate within it. The SRH environment is extolled for its unambiguousness, but conversely, fuzzy for Kishan in the form of his tempo and rhythm. And for a natural player to rely on instinct and self-belief, that would feel like constraining themselves to dance while in shackles.

The Future: Auction, Trade, or Turnaround?

Even though it’s still the end of the season for SRH, the talk has already focused on the future. Will SRH release him? Could he re-enter the auction? Some experts believe they would try to buy him back at a lower price. Then again, there is also the wild card scenario: a trade to a team like KKR, that desperately needs a quality Indian wicketkeeper-batsman.

It is a risk. The availability of Indian talent at the top is rare, and allowing Kishan to leave, even after a disappointing season, could be a huge mistake. Don’t forget, this is year one of the three-year IPL cycle. An emotional decision now could come back to bite SRH if Kishan finds form with another team. And let’s be real, with that talent, not only is it possible, it is probably happening.

Whether Kishan stays, goes, or gets traded, this next chapter in Kishan’s IPL journey will be pivotal for him and the franchise that endorses him next. So here lies the question: is SRH willing to swing for the fences once more, or will another franchise unlock the Kishan we all know he can be?

Let us know — go risky or play it safe?