Hyderabad, India: The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have appointed Australian pace bowler Pat Cummins as their new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. This move comes after SRH finished last in IPL 2023 under the leadership of Aiden Markram.
Cummins replaces Markram, who led the team for just one season. SRH acquired Cummins for a significant sum at the IPL auction, raising questions due to his lack of experience in leading T20 teams.
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan expressed reservations about the captaincy choice. While acknowledging Cummins’ leadership skills displayed in guiding Australia to the World Cup win, Pathan questioned his suitability for the T20 format. He pointed out Cummins’ average IPL record, with 45 wickets in 42 matches at an economy of 8.54, and highlighted the absence of proven T20 leadership experience.
Pathan told Star Sports, “When you talk about leadership, you wouldn’t want to think beyond Cummins ideally. Australia just won the World Cup under him, he’s performed really well in the last one and a half years. But the problem is that Cummins will look nice overall. However, when it comes to T20 leadership, there’s nothing. His performance isn’t the greatest in T20 cricket and his IPL numbers aren’t decent either.”
Pathan further questioned the decision to remove Markram after a single underwhelming season. He emphasized the importance of backing captains through challenging times, suggesting that SRH might have opted for a more experienced T20 leader.
Looking to improve their performance in IPL 2024, SRH have also bolstered their squad with additions like Travis Head and Wanindu Hasaranga. They will kick off their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 23rd at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
While SRH hope Cummins’ leadership qualities will translate into success in the IPL, Pathan’s concerns highlight the uncertainty surrounding this decision. The upcoming season will be crucial for both Cummins and SRH, as they aim to prove doubters wrong.