"Do I really need to come in and smash every delivery?" – Kishan’s reaction to being picked up by SRH

"Do I have to hit every ball?" – Kishan on Joining SRH and Embracing Their Batting Philosophy

Ishan Kishan didn’t waste any time after being snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a hefty INR 11.25 crore (approx. USD 1.34 million) at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Curious about what was expected of him in a team known for its aggressive batting, he quickly dialed teammate Abhishek Sharma.

“I called Abhishek right away and asked, ‘Do I have to go out and smash every single ball?’ And he said, ‘Exactly. That’s your job here—just hit and have fun.’ And honestly, that’s the best part about this team,” Kishan shared.

The message from the SRH camp was loud and clear: play with freedom. And Kishan certainly did just that, blasting his maiden IPL century—an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls—against Rajasthan Royals. His knock helped power SRH to 286, just two runs short of their own record for the highest-ever IPL total.

“I could sense the vibe even before this game,” Kishan said post-match. “It’s not just because I got a hundred. From day one, the instructions were simple—if the ball’s there, go for it. Play your game, enjoy the moment. That’s how we’re going to approach this tournament.”

Kishan's century was the third-fastest by an SRH player, following Travis Head (41 balls) and David Warner (43). He built explosive partnerships with Head (85 off 38) and Nitish Reddy (72 off 29), showcasing the firepower in SRH’s lineup, which now holds four of the top five IPL team totals.

“At one point, someone brought water and said, ‘We need to break our record [of 287],’” Kishan laughed. “I didn’t even realize there was a target like that, but now that we missed it, it gives us something to chase next time.”

This stellar knock was a statement from Kishan, who entered the season after a modest run in domestic cricket and a lackluster IPL 2024, where he scored just 320 runs in 14 innings for MI. Now batting at No. 3 instead of opening, Kishan said the clarity from coach and captain has been crucial.

“Pat [Cummins] keeps things really simple,” he said. “If a player likes to go hard early, he backs that. Even if you get out, there’s no added pressure. That support makes a big difference—especially for youngsters. You saw Aniket Verma in his debut; he just went for it, not thinking about staying not out.”

Kishan’s resurgence comes after a challenging year—he was removed from the BCCI central contract list after skipping domestic commitments. But he insists he didn’t dwell on it.

“I’ve never been someone who lingers on the negatives,” he said. “I knew I had to focus on what’s next—prepare well, perform, and trust that it’ll pay off. I was doing it for my family, my fans, my brother who was there in the stands. Playing for SRH, in Hyderabad, and delivering in the first match—it was a special moment.”

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