In a bold move that surprised many, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) recently announced Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins as their new captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season replacing Aiden Markram.
This decision marks a big change for Cummins, who, despite his great cricketing skills, has never led a team in the T20 format before.
Cummins’ appointment as captain follows his recent successes with the Australian national team. His key role in Australia’s wins in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship shows he can handle pressure and lead his team to victory on the big stage.
Moreover, Cummins’ leadership qualities are evident in his calm attitude, smart thinking, and leading by example. These traits, along with his proven ability to win games with both bat and ball, make him a great choice to lead SRH in the IPL.
SRH paid a whopping 20.5 crore (about 2.4 million USD) to get Cummins on board, showing how much they value his skills and leadership. This big price tag shows SRH’s belief that Cummins can make a big difference, not just as a player but also as a captain.
Cummins’ first test as SRH captain will be against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens on March 23. It’s a big challenge for Cummins, as he’ll lead SRH against tough opponents in what’s sure to be an exciting match. This game will let Cummins show his leadership and set the tone for SRH’s IPL 2024 campaign.
Other than him, SRH will also rely on key players Travis Head, Glenn Phillips, and Umran Malik. Travis Head’s explosive batting and handy off-spin bring experience to the middle order, while Glenn Phillips adds firepower to the top order with his aggressive batting style.
Umran Malik’s express pace and ability to extract bounce make him a potent weapon in the bowling attack, especially in the death overs.
Cummins becomes SRH’s third captain in as many seasons, succeeding Williamson and Markram.
Williamson led SRH to an eighth-place finish in 2022 before being released ahead of the 2023 season. Under Markram’s captaincy, SRH finished last in 2023 with only four wins in 14 league games.
As SRH gets ready for the season ahead, Cummins’ appointment has brought hope and excitement to fans. With his great cricket skills and leadership abilities, Cummins could lead SRH to their second IPL title in 2024.
But only time will tell if Cummins can rise to the occasion and guide SRH to success in what’s sure to be an exciting IPL season.
Utpal is a journalist covering online and offline sports in India. He has passion for everything sports and is a regular at various sports events. Follow him to stay abreast of all things sports.
