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The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was buzzing with anticipation as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) hosted Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 55th match of IPL 2025. With playoff hopes hanging by a thread for both teams, SRH skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to field first, hoping to make early inroads against a DC side desperate to regain form and momentum. The stakes were high, the atmosphere electric, and Cummins wasted no time in delivering a moment to remember.
Karun Nair falls for a golden duck facing Pat Cummins spectacular delivery
Cummins set the tone for SRH with a sensational first ball of the match. Cummins delivered a back-of-a-length ball in the corridor outside off, extracting just enough movement off the seam. Karun Nair, opening for DC, was drawn into a tentative push away from his body, feet rooted and hands reaching. The ball kissed the outside edge of Nair’s bat and flew safely into the gloves of Ishan Kishan behind the stumps. The Hyderabad crowd erupted as Nair’s lean run continued, departing for a golden duck and giving SRH the perfect start. The delivery was a classic example of Cummins’ skill-pace, bounce, and subtle movement-making it a near-unplayable ball first up. The early breakthrough sent a surge of energy through the SRH camp, with Cummins leading from the front and the stands roaring in approval.
From blazing start to batting nightmare of Nair’s IPL 2025 slump
Nair’s IPL 2025 campaign began with a bang, smashing a blistering 89 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians-a knock that made headlines and raised hopes of a revival in his T20 career. However, since that explosive innings, Nair’s form has nosedived dramatically. In his next six outings, he has managed just 65 runs, with scores of 0 (vs Rajasthan Royals), 31 (vs Gujarat Titans), 15 (vs Lucknow Super Giants), 4 (vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru), 15 (vs Kolkata Knight Riders), and now 0 (vs SRH).
This string of low scores has dragged his season average down to 22.00, with his only fifty coming in that memorable knock against MI. The golden duck against SRH was his second of the season, highlighting a worrying trend for both Nair and the Capitals’ top order. Once hailed for his ability to anchor and accelerate, Nair’s current run underscores the unforgiving nature of T20 cricket-where fortunes can change in a matter of days.
Here’s how fans reacted:
PAT CUMMINS STRIKES IN THE FIRST BALL..!!!!
– Golden Duck for Karun Nair.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
(Excuse the rant, twitter gods)
Karun Nair. You fall in such classical fashion to Cummins/Santner
How'll u survive test match (Vs Eng seamers in their conditions)
— JoiningUnrelatedDots (@Mareeswj)
First 4 game 4 win DC without Karun Nair
Next 7 game 2 win DC With Karun Nair
Karun Nair Destroyed DC Playoffs ❌😳— Hunter Blue (@blue73535)
aaj bhi 💩diya phir se barmuda ki team tumse acha khel legi agr unhe ek chance mile to,karun nair sbse bda panoti h jab se aaya h team 6 me se 4 match haar gyi h phir bhi team me bna hua h isse acha to JFM h use hi chance de dete. Ab koi ummid nhi tumse
— Manish Kumar 🇮🇳 (@Manishgautam86)
From hero to struggle — Karun Nair lit up the IPL with 89 vs MI, but hasn’t fired since: 0, 31, 15, 4, 15, 0.
Time for a comeback?— Bala k (@Bala_g0)
Karun Nair wasting his form and the opportunities he got.
First match : 89 runs
Next 6 games : 65 runsThis might his last game in his IPL career.
— Prasad (@statsfeed_india)
Clowns or what literally pitch is too difficult to bat on atleast send him at 3 man try remove karun nair 🙏🙏🙏
— harshini.py (@harshi_aa)
The comeback is on… to domestic cricket. 😅
Karun Nair in Match 1: 89 runs 🔥
Karun Nair in next 6 matches: 65 runs 🥲— Robin (@robinchopra10)
No Bumra no Party for Karun Nair.
— Karishma | ಕ (@karishmairl)
Karun Nair 2.0 lasted for 9:35 – 10:43 PM, 13/04/25
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy)
Karun Nair 🗿
— 𝙆. (@kxone8)
What karun nair is doing after scoring a good knock is the same thing he did after scoring that 303 and yet people want justice
— Vishwash Trivedi (@VishwashTrived3)
Also READ: Karun Nair loses cool after his disastrous run-out against Rajasthan Royals
