As the cricketing world gears up for another thrilling season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), all eyes are on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The team embarks on a quest for redemption in the upcoming tournament. However, team management is likely to sack South African batter Aiden Markram.
As the news broke about SRH’s potential decision, fans and cricket enthusiasts started brainstorming to find the reason behind it. Notably, Markram has led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back victories in the SA20 league.
However, with a revamped squad and strategic leadership adjustments, SRH will look to make a formidable comeback after a lacklustre performance in the previous edition. Last year, under the captaincy of Markram, SRH faced a disappointing finish despite boasting a star-studded lineup.
However, Markram showcased his leadership prowess in the South African T20 league by guiding SRH’s sister franchise, SunRisers Eastern Cape, to consecutive title victories in 2023 and 2024, instilling hope and confidence among SRH faithful.
Why can Pat Cummins replace Aiden Markram?
In a bid to strengthen their squad, SRH made significant acquisitions in the IPL 2024 auction. The franchise secured the services of the Australian powerhouse, Pat Cummins, for a whopping ?20.50 crore, making him the second-most expensive signing in IPL history. Additionally, SRH added firepower with the signings of Travis Head for ?6.80 crore and Wanindu Hasaranga for ?1.5 crore, among others.
The influx of new talent has added depth to the team, presenting a formidable challenge for the team to select the four overseas players from this pool. Notably, it also includes Marco Jansen, Glenn Phillips, and Heinrich Klaasen.
This should be the major reason behind the possible sacking of Aiden Markram from the leadership role. By appointing Cummins as skipper, teams provide themselves with a great and formidable bowling line-up, which also includes Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
With their opening match against the Kolkata Knight Riders scheduled for March 23 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Sunrisers Hyderabad is leaving no stone unturned in their quest for success. Speculation is rife that former India captain-turned-broadcaster Sunil Gavaskar also believes that Pat Cummins is poised to assume the mantle of captaincy, adding another layer of intrigue to SRH’s campaign.
