Aakash Chopra is skeptical of the SunRisers Hyderabad’s choice to name Pat Cummins as their skipper for the IPL 2024.
At last year’s IPL 2024 auction, SRH paid a hefty 20.50 crore for Cummins. The Hyderabad-based club has picked the Australian Test and One-Day International captain to lead them in the forthcoming season of the coveted league.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that Cummins has low IPL stats and is not a strong weapon with the new ball or at the death.
“You have made Pat Cummins the captain but have you seen his recent IPL numbers? Check attentively, he concedes a lot of runs and doesn’t score that many runs with the bat. Only four overseas players play. He neither bowls in the powerplay nor at the death.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener stated that the Australian seamer does not deserve a definite spot in the XI and does not captain his country in the shortest format.
“If he is not going to do all those jobs, you are spending 25% of your overseas resources on a player whose place in the XI was not 100% guaranteed in the IPL. That is why Pat Cummins is not the captain of the team where 11 Australians play, although he has won the World Cup, but not T20.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra ascribed Cummins’ appointment as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain to recent prejudice. He stated that the Australian captain successfully orchestrated India’s defeat in the ODI World Cup final, and that Daniel Vettori’s presence as SRH head coach may have also played in his favour.
Aakash Chopra questions SRH’s decision to replace Aiden Markram as captain
Chopra ascribed Cummins’ appointment as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain to recent prejudice. He stated that the Australian captain successfully orchestrated India’s defeat in the ODI World Cup final, and that Daniel Vettori’s presence as SRH head coach may have also played in his favour.
“There is a player named Aiden Markram who benefitted the SunRisers franchise a lot. He made the SunRisers Eastern Cape the champions for two successive years in the SA20 league. However, he has been removed from the captaincy here. He captained one year in total where I felt there was a lot of confusion.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator stated that South Africa’s middle-order hitter lacked authority of the franchise.
“He didn’t know what was happening. He was asked at times where Umran Malik was and he replied he wasn’t aware and that the person who made the team should be asked about it. That is where he was but he has been sidelined now.”
Aakash Chopra
According to Chopra, Aiden Markram may not be included in the SRH playing XI due to the availability of other international possibilities. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen are almost guaranteed to make the XI thanks to Cummins’ captaincy.