The 2016 champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, have changed their captain, but what prompted this move? Sunrisers Hyderabad has already announced a change in captaincy, with Pat Cummins set to lead the side in the upcoming IPL 2024.
Previously, Aiden Markram led the side in the previous edition of the IPL (IPL 2023). However, what actually led to the decision to change captains just two days ahead of the Indian Premier League? The team’s performance last year under Aiden Markram’s captaincy was disappointing—they finished at the bottom of the table, marking the poorest finish in IPL history, securing the 10th spot among the 10 teams.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, once champions in 2016 when they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore, also reached the finals in 2018 but lost to Chennai Super Kings. However, their performance in 2023 was notably poor compared to previous seasons, resulting in the bottom finish. This likely played a significant role in the team management’s decision to explore alternatives beyond Aiden Markram for the captaincy.
During the IPL 2024 auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad made a significant investment in Pat Cummins, paying a whopping Rs 20.5 crores for the Australian all-rounder.
Speculations were correct—Pat Cummins is now set to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad. Media reports have confirmed that Pat Cummins will be the captain. Another noteworthy aspect of Pat Cummins is his successful leadership in two major tournaments: the WTC (World Test Championship) finals, where he captained Team Australasia to victory against India, and the Cricket World Cup Final 2023 (ODI World Cup).
In those two finals, Pat Cummins captained the Australian team, and they emerged victorious against India. These factors undoubtedly influenced the Sunrisers Hyderabad management’s decision to consider Pat Cummins for the captaincy role. Additionally, Pat Cummins has been an excellent performer in T20 matches.
Notably, this will be the first time that Pat Cummins will lead in the Indian Premier League.
