Aakash Chopra believes that Pat Cummins was signed by the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) not just for his bowling and batting capabilities but also for his skills as captain. At the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on Tuesday, they purchased six players; the most expensive one being Cummins, with ₹20.50 crore.
Cummins stated the year 2023 by winning the World Test Championship, retaining the Ashes in England, leading Australia to another ODI World Cup, and now becoming the first ever player to cross that 20 crore mark in the history of the IPL.
Under Aiden Markram’s captaincy, the Hyderabad-based franchise ended last in the 2023 Indian Premier League. So they bought Pat Cummins during the auction, who can lead their side in the upcoming season of IPL.
Daniel Vettori has an Australian connection with Pat Cummins- Aakash Chopra
In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra shared his views that the SunRisers Hyderabad’s team was good earlier and it is good now as well. They are looking for a captain who can lead the tea, which is worthy of qualifying and that’s why acquired Cummins for his leadership skills.
“The Pat Cummins bid for 20.50 crore rupees – they have neither bought a bowler nor a batter, but a captain. In my opinion, Hyderabad needed a captain. The team was good earlier, it is good now as well. It is a team worthy of qualifying and was earlier as well,” he elaborated (3:25).
The former Indian opener and a commentator stated that the Australian captain for the Test and ODI wouldn’t have been purchased for such a significant amount looking at his IPL records which is extremely ordinary. Further he said that there is no doubt he is a class player, but his T20I numbers are 50-50.
“However, now (Daniel) Vettori has come. He has an Australian connection with Pat Cummins. So they have suddenly got him in the form of a captain, or else 20.50 crore rupees makes no sense, not for somebody whose IPL record is extremely ordinary. Class player but T20 numbers are 50-50,” he explained.
In 42 IPL games, Pat Cummins has taken 45 wickets at an economy rate of 8.54, which is a little high. In five IPL 2022 games, he claimed seven wickets at an average of 10.69 runs per over. That was the last time he competed in the elite tournament.
He might get dropped from the team-Aakash Chopra on Aiden Markram’s place in SRH’s playing XI
If Pat Cummins is named captain, Aakash Chopra does not see Aiden Markram in the SunRisers Hyderabad starting lineup. Aiden Markram, who captained the SRH during the IPL 2023, didn’t have a great season, scoring 248 runs with an average of 22.55 during 13 matches.
“I feel they have planned to make him (Cummins) the captain there, and that is why they have kept Travis Head as well. Last year’s captain Aiden Markram, you might see him dropped. He won’t be seen playing,” said Aakash Chopra.
SRH bought Hasaranga at his base price of ₹1.50 crore, which was a great deal. The cricketer-turned-commentator ended by saying that SRH had gotten better from the previous season.
“Wanindu Hasaranga was an absolute steal. They got him for 1.5 crores. The team was strong earlier as well and is now looking even stronger,” he concluded.
The 2016 IPL champions also purchased Travis Head, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, and Jhathavedh Subramanyan at the auction in addition to Pat Cummins and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Also Read: IPL 2024: “Rovman Powell Brings A Storm In the IPL 2024 Auction”- Parthiv Patel
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