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Once revered as one of the most consistent teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) has now found itself trapped in a cycle of constant upheaval, marked by frequent changes in leadership and coaching staff.
SunRisers Hyderabad’s struggle for stability
Over the past four years, SRH has witnessed the revolving door of four captains and four coaches, indicative of their struggle to find stability on and off the field. Following a dismal 2023 season where they managed to secure only four wins out of 14 matches, the franchise opted to part ways with the captain-coach duo of Aiden Markram and Brian Lara, continuing a trend of inconsistency that began after the departure of David Warner and Trevor Bayliss in 2021.
Pat Cummins’ record-breaking acquisition and captaincy appointment
In preparation for the 2024 season, SRH made headlines by securing the services of Pat Cummins for a franchise-record fee of Rs 20.50 crore, simultaneously entrusting him with the captaincy. While the rationale behind this decision remains somewhat ambiguous, it’s plausible to speculate that Cummins’ remarkable success with the Australian team during the 2023 international cricket season played a significant role.
Cummins played a pivotal role in leading Australia to victory in both the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup against India within a span of six months, showcasing his leadership credentials on the global stage.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Sunil Gavaskar picks 4 overseas players for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Steve Smith’s verdict on Cummins as SRH captain for IPL 2024
Ahead of the upcoming season, Steve Smith, Cummins’ Australian teammate who is now part of the commentary panel for the IPL’s 17th edition, shared his perspective on Cummins’ appointment as the new captain of SRH. Smith expressed his confidence in Cummins’ ability to excel in the leadership role, noting that Cummins tends to thrive when entrusted with the responsibility of leading a team.
“I think he’ll do a great job for Hyderabad while working with Daniel Vettori (SRH head coach). They’ve got a great rapport as they had worked together in Australia when Dan was the assistant coach. And yeah, he seems to play extremely well when he’s got a leadership role as well. So, I am looking forward to seeing how Hyderabad fares this year,” Smith was quoted as saying by India Today.
