In a surprising twist, Sunrisers Hyderabad has chosen star Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins as the captain for the upcoming IPL 2024 season. Cummins, who led Australia to victory in the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup, is now gearing up for his debut captaincy role in the IPL.
Cummins Takes the Helm
Having proved his mettle on the international stage, Cummins is set to take on the responsibilities of leading a team in the highly competitive IPL. The decision comes after a high-stakes bidding war in which SRH’s owner, Kavya Maran, secured Cummins for a whopping ₹20.50 crores.
Markram Steps Down
Eden Markram, who captained the team in the last two seasons, faced a change in leadership following disappointing performances. Despite leading the franchise to two titles in previous seasons, Markram’s captaincy came under scrutiny due to SRH’s lackluster performance in 2023. With Cummins’ exceptional leadership skills, the team’s owners decided to make the change for the upcoming season.
Cummins: A 360-Degree Player
Cummins, previously associated with Kolkata Knight Riders, made headlines in the last season by scoring the fastest half-century in IPL history in just 14 balls. Although his bowling performance might not have been as impactful in the tournament, his ability as a dynamic all-rounder and exceptional leadership skills make him a valuable asset for any team.
IPL’s Most Expensive Player
The bidding war for Pat Cummins during the IPL auction was intense, with Sunrisers Hyderabad eventually securing him for a record-breaking ₹20.50 crores. Kolkata Knight Riders, his previous franchise, bid up to ₹24.75 crores, making him the most expensive player in the history of the tournament.
SRH Squad for IPL 2024
With Cummins as the captain, Sunrisers Hyderabad aims for a fresh start in the upcoming season. The squad includes players like Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Eden Markram, Marco Jansen, Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Sanveer Singh, Henrik Klassen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Upendra Singh Yadav, Umran Malik, Nitesh Kumar Reddy, Fazlhaq Farooqui, Shahbaz Ahmed, Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Jaldip Unadkat, Akash Singh, and Jathavedh Subramanian.
In conclusion, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strategic move to appoint Pat Cummins as the captain signals a new era for the team. As one of the most expensive players in IPL history, Cummins brings not only cricketing prowess but also exceptional leadership qualities to the table. The fans eagerly await to see how Cummins will steer the ship and lead SRH in the quest for glory in IPL 2024.