After days of online rumors, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have finally confirmed Pat Cummins as their new captain ahead of the IPL 2024 season, replacing Aiden Markram at the helm.
While Pat Cummins achieved great things as Australia’s captain last year – WTC final win, Ashes retention, and World Cup 2023 trophy – those came in the two longer formats, and this decision from the franchise has been met with criticism, skepticism, and trolling from the fans on social media.
SRH had bought Cummins for a huge amount of INR 20.5 crore in the IPL 2024 auction in December. He was at that time the most expensive IPL player ever before his Australian teammate Mitchell Starc broke the record as KKR snapped him for INR 24.75 crore.
SRH posted on social media: “#OrangeArmy! Our new skipper Pat Cummins”
#OrangeArmy! Our new skipper Pat Cummins 🧡#IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/ODNY9pdlEf
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 4, 2024
Fans are, however, unhappy and unimpressed with this decision by SRH. Although under Markram SRH finished last in the IPL 2023 season, the South African has captained the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), SRH’s sister franchise in SA20, to two consecutive SA20 titles. Fans also feel that Pat Cummins’ place in SRH’s T20 XI is still up for debate with the franchise having the likes of Markram, Glenn Phillips, Travis Head, Marco Jansen, and Wanindu Hasaranga in their squad as well.
Here is how fans reacted to the news of Pat Cummins being appointed as new SRH captain for IPL 2024:
This will be the first time that Cummins will lead as side in the IPL. In fact, he has never captained in a major T20 league, not even in BBL. Further, Pat Cummins as a T20 bowler is way inferior than he is in Tests and ODIs, though his batting – he has a 14-ball fifty in the IPL against MI – boosts his value in the XI in the shortest format. He had skipped the tournament last year in ordet to be fresh for the assignments in the two other formats.
Apart from the captaincy switch, SRH have also named Daniel Vettori as the new head coach, replacing Brian Lara.
Also Read: Breaking: CSK Lose Opener Devon Conway To Injury For First Half Of IPL 2024
