'Seen His IPL Numbers?,' Ex-KKR Star Slams SRH For Naming Cummins IPL Captain
Pat Cummins was appointed by SRH. (X.com)
Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Aakash Chopra has reservations about SunRisers Hyderabad's decision to appoint Pat Cummins as their captain for IPL 2024.
Despite the hefty price tag of ₹20.50 crore at the IPL 2024 auction, Chopra questions Cummins' suitability for the leadership role.
In a YouTube video, the ex-India opener highlighted Cummins' underwhelming IPL statistics, emphasising his high economy rate and modest contributions with the bat.
He pointed out that the Aussie seamer doesn't consistently bowl in crucial phases like the powerplay or death overs, diminishing his impact on the game.
“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," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Furthermore, he noted that Cummins doesn't command an assured place in the XI and isn't the captain of the Australian T20 team.
With only four overseas slots available in the IPL, investing a significant portion in Cummins, whose position isn't guaranteed, could be risky.
"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," he added.
Despite his hefty price tag, Cummins must validate his worth as a player and a leader. While his talent and dedication are unquestionable, his IPL performances haven't matched his reputation. In 42 IPL matches, the Australian ODI skipper has taken 45 wickets at an average of 30.16 and an economy rate of 8.54, with limited impact.
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