NEW DELHI: Former India captain
Sunil Gavaskar
has expressed his support for
Pat Cummins
to lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2024.
Cummins was acquired by SRH for a significant amount of Rs 20.50 crore during the auction held in December last year, making him one of their key purchases. Another notable addition to the team was
Travis Head
, secured for Rs 6.80 crore.
Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, commended SRH for their strategic move in acquiring Cummins, emphasising the Australian player's leadership qualities and versatile skills as crucial assets for the team's potential success.
The former India captain sees Cummins as a game-changer for SRH, suggesting that his presence could make a significant impact on the team's performance in the upcoming IPL season. As SRH prepares for the tournament, Gavaskar's endorsement adds weight to the expectations surrounding Cummins' role as a leader for the franchise.
"I think Pat Cummins was a smart buy, maybe a little over-expensive. Smart buy because he will bring the leadership aspect to their team, which was lacking the last time around," said Gavaskar.
"Last time around, some of the bowling changes that we saw in crucial games were just head-scratching, and that cost them matches. So now with Pat Cummins coming in, I am pretty certain that he will be the captain of the team and that will make a huge difference," the former India captain added.
Indeed, Cummins brings a valuable all-round dimension to SRH's arsenal, with his ability to make impactful contributions both with the bat and ball. Gavaskar highlighted Cummins' remarkable performance in IPL 2022, where he smashed a 14-ball half-century while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. This impressive display showcased Cummins' prowess as an all-rounder and underlined his potential to influence the outcome of a match with his versatile skills.
The overhaul of SRH's squad also involved a significant investment in Travis Head, an explosive Australian batsman. SRH secured Head for a notable amount of Rs 6.80 crore during the auction. Head is known for his ability to single-handedly change the course of a game with his aggressive batting style and powerful stroke play.
With Cummins and Head in their ranks, SRH aims to strengthen their team with a combination of experienced leadership, all-round capabilities, and dynamic batting prowess as they gear up for the challenges of the upcoming IPL season in 2024.
Gavaskar identified Head as the perfect fit for the opening slot, envisioning an electrifying partnership with either
Mayank Agarwal
or
Rahul Tripathi
.
"Travis Head is the kind of batter who can take the game away from you. He did that in the World Cup finals. He is just the ideal No. 1 in a 20-overs game for the Sunrisers Hyderabad."
"So, he and whoever opens with him, whether it's Mayank Agarwal or whether it's Rahul Tripathi, who started as an opener and then went in the middle, if he comes in the opening slot again, then it will be entertaining batting for sure," Gavaskar stated.
Agarwal and Tripathi, both underwhelming in IPL 2023, will be looking for redemption, while Abhishek Sharma presents another opening option for SRH.
(With IANS inputs)
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