In a surprising flip of occasions on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 public sale, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins emerged as a sizzling property, securing a multi-million-dollar deal after his latest ODI World Cup triumph in India. The fierce bidding conflict amongst franchises witnessed 4 groups vying for Cummins, with Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) battling to accumulate the companies of the seasoned Aussie skipper.
SRH secures Pat Cummins for a whopping value
The extraordinary bidding conflict peaked when SRH entered the scene, pushing the bid for Cummins past the 20 crore benchmark, making him the primary participant in IPL historical past to realize this milestone. Ultimately, SRH sealed the deal by roping in Cummins for a staggering INR 20.50 crore.
Management conundrum: Aiden Markram or Pat Cummins for SRH Captaincy?
With the acquisition of Cummins, the main target now shifts to the management position at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Presently led by South African Aiden Markram, the group faces a possible captaincy dilemma because of the arrival of Cummins, who boasts vital captaincy expertise and success within the limited-overs format.
AB de Villiers shares his opinion
Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers shared his perspective on the Sunrisers’ captaincy query. Regardless of Cummins’ arrival, De Villiers advocated for Markram to proceed because the captain, emphasizing Markram’s wonderful management qualities and his compatibility with the present 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 issues about SRH’s star-studded abroad lineup, De Villiers dismissed the notion as an issue, emphasizing the group’s well-balanced and formidable squad. The previous 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.