Earlier this month, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) announced Australia's Pat Cummins as their new captain for the IPL 2024 season, slated to get underway on March 22.
Cummins’ success at the helm for Australia in Tests and ODIs, winning the World Test Championship (WTC) and World Cup last year has seemingly worked in his favour.
The fast bowler was signed by SRH for a hefty sum of INR 20.50 Crore during the auction last December, making him one of the costliest purchases in IPL history.
However, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed reservations over this decision from SRH, considering that Cummins’ IPL numbers are not that impressive as a bowler.
“Sunrisers Hyderabad taking a punt on Pat Cummins’ momentum which is especially good for him from last two seasons be it ICC 50 overs World Cup and WTC final and the way he is performing at an international level,” said Pathan on Star Sports’ show “Game Plan”.
“My doubt is only there as his IPL numbers are not that great eight-and-a-half economy in the IPL which is quite high for a premier quality fast bowler, hopefully, that can change in one season, so Sunrisers Hyderabad will be hoping he will able to come and lead the side to the victory which they haven’t got it from some time now but I certainly think that t20 cricket is a different form of game compare to 50 overs and test cricket,” he added.
SRH were led by Aiden Markram in the previous two seasons but didn’t get any significant success. In fact, they finished the last edition at the bottom of the points table with just four wins in 14 games.
Markram, however, successfully led SunRisers Eastern Cape, a sister team of the SRH franchise to the trophy in the first two seasons of the SA20.
Meanwhile, former India pacer Varun Aaron praised Rajasthan Royals for assembling a solid and well-balanced team composition. He singled out Riyan Parag as a player to watch out for in the upcoming season.
“I think they are one of the most solid and really well-balanced teams in the IPL, my take would be this IPL should be the coming of age of Riyan Parag because they really invested a lot in him. He has given them returns on and off but the kind of form he was in domestic cricket is something which I am really looking out for because the power he has and the hitting ability he possesses is almost second to none in Indian cricket. I would love to see him really come of age go bonkers and just take bowlers apart,” said Aaron.
On the other hand, former Australian captain Aaron Finch shared his two cents on Mumbai Indians’ strategy, highlighted the benefit of having Rohit Sharma as a pure batter.
“I think for Rohit, the challenge would be just walking out and opening the batting as he did so many times for India and Mumbai over the years. This might be a wipe-off for his shoulders. When you are captaining a team constantly everywhere you go you are captain of the team you can get engrossed a lot in that, so now having a freedom to walk out and bat will be beneficial for him personally and Mumbai Indians,” said Finch.
(With IANS Inputs)
