SRH names Cummins as skipper, its fourth in 3 years

HYDERABAD: Australia’s World Cup-winning skipper Pat Cummins was on Monday named captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the upcoming Indian Premier League, becoming the fourth player to be handed the responsibility in the last three years.

The 30-year-old pacer was bought by SRH for a whopping Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL auction in December last year, making him the second costliest player in the event’s history. He replaced South African Aiden Markram, who led SRH in the 2023 season.

“Our new captain Pat Cummins,” SRH posted on its social media platforms, along with a picture of Cummins.

In the 2023 season, SRH finished bottom of the heap under Markram’s captaincy with only four wins in 14 league games.

Cummins earlier played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals, but this will be his first stint as captain in the lucrative T20 league. He has not led a team in top-flight T20 cricket before.

But he has achieved huge success as Australia captain, leading the team to victory in the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup, with both wins in the finals coming against India.

Franklin replaces Steyn as bowling coach

Sunrisers Hyderabad also announced the appointment of former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin as its pace-bowling coach for the upcoming season.

Franklin, the former left-arm fast-bowler, replaces legendary South Africa pacer Dale Steyn, who was appointed in the role by the franchise in 2022. But the franchise said Steyn will not link up with the team for the upcoming season due to personal reasons.