Is Pat Cummins the New Captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Pat Cummins’ appointment, if confirmed, would mark a stark contrast to Markram’s tenure.

Following a disappointing performance under Aiden Markram’s leadership last year, the winds of change are swirling around the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) camp as they gear up for the 2024 IPL season, the franchise is reportedly eyeing a significant shift by appointing Australian World Cup winning captain, Pat Cummins, as their new captain.

This move comes after SRH secured Cummins for a record-breaking INR 20.5 crore at the IPL 2024 auction, making him the second-most expensive player in the league’s history. The decision is likely influenced by Daniel Vettori, the new head coach, who previously worked alongside Cummins in international cricket. Vettori’s familiarity with Cummins’ leadership style and proven success on the field could be a key factor in this potential captaincy change.

Cummins’ appointment, if confirmed, would mark a stark contrast to Aiden Markram’s tenure. While Markram recently led the SRH-affiliated Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a second SA20 title, his leadership for Hyderabad hasn’t yielded similar results. Conversely, Cummins has emerged as a successful captain, leading Australia to both the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup titles in 2023. His strong leadership qualities and strategic acumen could be the missing piece in SRH’s quest for an IPL title.

The franchise has also bolstered its squad with additional overseas recruits like Travis Head and Wanindu Hasaranga. This talent influx, coupled with the potential arrival of Cummins, presents an exciting new chapter for SRH. However, the team management faces the challenge of selecting the final four overseas players from their impressive pool. But Cummins’ addition as a skipper will help the franchise to get some positive results.

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Meanwhile, former South Africa’s legendary pacer Dale Steyn, who has been instrumental in nurturing young talents like Umran Malik and T Natarajan in his role as SRH’s bowling coach, will be taking a break from his duties this season. His return for IPL 2025 is expected, pending further developments.

With these changes brewing, SRH fans eagerly await the official confirmation of Pat Cummins’ captaincy. If true, this move could usher in a new era for the franchise, marked by strong leadership, strategic brilliance, and a renewed push for IPL glory. Further, Cummins has vast experience of captaincy which will definitely help SRH in the IPL 2024.

SRH Full Squad for IPL 2024 with Pat Cummins Captain:

Pat Cummins (C), Aiden Markram (V/C), Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Marco Jansen, Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Sanvir Singh, Heinrich Klaasen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Upendra Singh Yadav, Umran Malik, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, Jhathavedh Subramanyan.