Former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin is set to take over as the bowling coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL 2024 season, as per ESPNcricinfo. This comes after Dale Steyn, appointed in 2022, stepped down due to personal reasons.
Franklin, a seasoned cricketer with experience playing for Mumbai Indians, will join forces with newly appointed head coach Daniel Vettori. The duo previously collaborated at Middlesex (county cricket) and Birmingham Phoenix (The Hundred). This marks Franklin’s maiden IPL coaching stint.
Sunrisers Hyderabad boasts a formidable bowling attack, including established names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, and Marco Jansen. Young talents like Umran Malik, T Natarajan, and Fazalhaq Farooqi further bolster their bowling ranks.
Vettori and Franklin face the challenge of reviving Sunrisers’ fortunes after the team’s disappointing performances in recent seasons, finishing last in 2023. Frequent leadership changes, including the departures of Tom Moody, Brian Lara, and Kane Williamson, are seen as contributing factors.
Aiden Markram currently leads the team, hoping for a turnaround with the guidance of the new coaching staff.