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In a stunning turn of events at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins emerged as a hot property, securing a multi-million-dollar deal after his recent ODI World Cup triumph in India. The fierce bidding war among franchises witnessed four teams vying for Cummins, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) battling to acquire the services of the seasoned Aussie skipper.
SRH secures Pat Cummins for a whopping price
The intense bidding war peaked when SRH entered the scene, pushing the bid for Cummins beyond the 20 crore benchmark, making him the first player in IPL history to achieve this milestone. Eventually, SRH sealed the deal by roping in Cummins for a staggering INR 20.50 crore.
Leadership conundrum: Aiden Markram or Pat Cummins for SRH Captaincy?
With the acquisition of Cummins, the focus now shifts to the leadership role at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Currently led by South African Aiden Markram, the team faces a potential captaincy dilemma due to the arrival of Cummins, who boasts significant captaincy experience and success in the limited-overs format.
AB de Villiers shares his opinion
Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers shared his perspective on the Sunrisers’ captaincy question. Despite Cummins’ arrival, De Villiers advocated for Markram to continue as the captain, emphasizing Markram’s excellent leadership qualities and his compatibility with the current SRH squad.
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“I will still go with Aiden Markram as captain. I’ve played with this guy before. He’s got a very, very good leadership brain on his head. I think he’ll do better this season, and that’s it. And as well. And it has got a very good squad to work with,” expressed De Villiers on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers predicts SRH’s playoff entry
Addressing concerns about SRH’s star-studded overseas lineup, De Villiers dismissed the notion as a problem, emphasizing the team’s well-balanced and formidable squad. The former Proteas skipper predicted Sunrisers Hyderabad to make it to the playoffs in IPL 2024.
“I don’t think the eight overseas players that you’re talking about being big stars is a problem. I think they have a very, very good squad, very well-balanced. I think they’re gonna make the knockouts this year. I want my calls to go all the way and be there at the back end of the IPL,” added De Villiers.
