Cricket

Pat Cummins, the Australian fast bowler and captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has etched his name in the record books of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by equaling Anil Kumble's feat of taking the second-highest number of wickets in a single season by a captain.Cummins achieved this milestone in the Qualifier 2 match of IPL 2024 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Chennai on Friday. He dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore to reach 17 wickets in the tournament, matching Kumble's tally from the 2010 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).The Australian skipper now has the opportunity to surpass Kumble's record and even challenge Shane Warne's all-time record of 19 wickets in an IPL season for a captain. Warne achieved this feat with Rajasthan Royals in 2008.Cummins' impressive performance in IPL 2024 is a testament to his exceptional bowling skills and leadership abilities. He has been a key figure in SRH's success this season, guiding them to the final where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday.The 29-year-old all-rounder has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, consistently delivering match-winning performances with both bat and ball. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the IPL.Cummins' success in the IPL is a continuation of his remarkable achievements in international cricket. He led Australia to victory in both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year, cementing his status as one of the best all-rounders in the world.With his team on the cusp of IPL glory, Cummins will be eager to add another chapter to his illustrious career by breaking Warne's record and guiding SRH to their second IPL title.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season culminates in a thrilling final between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday. KKR, the league stage toppers, defeated SRH in Qualifier 1, while SRH overcame Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 to secure their place in the final.Four Intriguing Facts About the IPL 2024 Final:1. Cummins' Potential Hat-Trick: If SRH emerges victorious, Pat Cummins will become the third Australian captain to lead a Hyderabad-based franchise to an IPL title. Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers, 2009) and David Warner (SRH, 2016) have previously achieved this feat.2. Costliest Players in IPL History: The 2024 IPL auction witnessed record-breaking deals for SRH's Nicholas Pooran (INR 20.50 crore) and KKR's Mitchell Starc (INR 24.75 crore). Both players will showcase their skills in the final.3. Absence of Indian T20 World Cup Squad Members: Unlike previous years, the IPL final will not feature any players from India's 15-member T20 World Cup squad. KKR and SRH do not have any representatives in the Indian team for the tournament scheduled from June 2 to 29.4. No New Champion: The IPL will not crown a new champion this year. Both KKR (2012, 2014) and SRH (2016) have previously won the title. Among the four playoff teams, only RCB remained without an IPL triumph.The final promises an exciting clash between two former champions, with both teams eager to add another trophy to their cabinet. The presence of star players like Cummins, Starc, and Pooran adds to the anticipation of a thrilling encounter.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's remarkable turnaround under Pat Cummins culminated in a thrilling 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The triumph propelled SRH to the final, a stark contrast to their dismal performance in the previous season.Cummins, acquired for a staggering Rs 20.50 crore, orchestrated a sensational revival for the franchise. He attributed the team's success to the positive atmosphere within the squad and their unwavering determination to reach the final.SRH's batting lineup, led by Heinrich Klaasen's brisk 50, posted a competitive total of 175 for nine. Travis Head and Rahul Tripathi also made valuable contributions.The spin contingent then took center stage, with Shahbaz Ahmed claiming three wickets and Abhishek Sharma chipping in with two. Their efforts restricted RR to a modest 139 for 7, with Cummins and T Natarajan also securing wickets.Cummins praised the bowling performance, particularly Abhishek's surprise inclusion. He acknowledged that the team's strength lay in their batting but emphasized the experience of their bowlers, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Natarajan, and Unadkat.Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson expressed disappointment that his batters struggled against the spinners. He admitted that the team lacked options in the middle overs and that the wicket behaved differently in the second innings, favoring the spinners.Samson also highlighted the need for his batters to adapt their approach against left-arm spin, suggesting they could have employed more reverse-sweeps or used the crease more effectively.Despite the defeat, Samson praised the young players in his side, including Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel, who have shown great potential for both RR and the Indian cricket team.

Pat Cummins, the Australian Test captain, is optimistic about the team's ability to navigate potential personnel changes in the coming years. He hopes to retain the core of his Test side, particularly during his tenure as captain, with crucial home summers against India and England on the horizon.While David Warner's retirement last summer marked the beginning of a generational shift, mass retirements in Test cricket are not anticipated. Nathan Lyon's absence from three Ashes Tests last year due to injury raised concerns about the future, but he has since expressed his desire to play in the 2027 England series."It's something we definitely think about," Cummins told ESPNcricinfo. "We're lucky that everyone has played a couple of years longer than we'd first hoped. Hopefully, it's the same with Nath."Cummins emphasized the importance of ensuring Lyon's longevity, similar to Jimmy Anderson's career management. "The job is to try and ensure he does get those four or five years. We try and do everything we can to get him right for those Test matches. At his age, it all comes down to his body really."The challenge for Australia will be to prevent a mass exodus, especially among the bowlers, given the age of the Test side. With ODI and T20I teams typically built around World Cup cycles, a transition is likely after the upcoming T20 World Cup. A similar change could occur in the ODI side after next year's Champions Trophy."In more recent years, it's one of the benefits of white-ball cricket that we have so many guys who play all three formats [that] they are going to have rest at some points," Cummins said. "In white-ball cricket, we've seen the emergence of younger guys. So come big tournaments or Test matches, they've already had some exposure, and hopefully, it makes the transition a bit more seamless."Despite a successful 2022 with the World Test Championship title, Ashes retention, and ODI World Cup triumph, Australia missed an opportunity to win the Ashes series in England after leading 2-0. Cummins acknowledged the disappointment, particularly in the Headingley Test, where England edged out a three-wicket victory."Think maybe Headingley was one that got away from us," he said. "Manchester we were totally outplayed, nothing went our way, but think Leeds we had our opportunities."While Cummins has not specified a timeframe for his captaincy, he has previously indicated that it will not be a long-term role. Head coach Andrew McDonald has suggested a four-year tenure, suggesting that the successful partnership may be approaching its midpoint.Australia is well-positioned to qualify for next year's WTC final, with the upcoming India series likely to be crucial. Cummins expressed his desire for the second half of the WTC cycle to be as successful as the first."Most things have gone to plan for now. Think you are going to get a natural churn rate with some of our more senior guys. Hopefully, they hang around for a while and they can manage their bodies until we are done. That makes the job for Andrew and myself a lot easier, but we'll see."

Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) hopes of reaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) final suffered a setback after their eight-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Qualifier 1. Despite the disappointing result, captain Pat Cummins remained optimistic, acknowledging that his team had earned the right to bounce back.SRH's batting woes began early as Mitchell Starc's pace proved too much to handle in the powerplay. The Hyderabad-based franchise was eventually dismissed for a below-par 159 in 19.3 overs. In contrast, KKR's openers, Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer, played scintillating knocks to chase down the target in just 13.4 overs.Cummins admitted that SRH's performance was below par, but he emphasized that such setbacks are part and parcel of T20 cricket. "We have earned the right to have one of those days and still win tournaments," he said. "Not our day, but good thing we have another crack at it."The decision to bring in Sanvir Singh as SRH's Impact Player also raised eyebrows. However, Cummins explained that the move was made to bolster the team's batting at the expense of an extra bowling option.Despite the setback, SRH still have a chance to reach the final. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday. Cummins expressed confidence that his team can bounce back and secure a berth in the title clash."Going to a new venue helps as well. It is going to be a bit different feel to here, so you start again," he said. "We have got a good body of work behind us this season to look back on, so we erase this one and move on."

Australia's Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, the two most expensive players in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will face off on Tuesday in a high-stakes playoff match. The winner will advance to the final, while the loser will have a second chance in the Eliminator.Cummins, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Starc, a key bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders, have both had impressive seasons. Cummins has led Hyderabad to eight wins in 14 matches, while Starc has taken 12 wickets in 12 games.However, it is Cummins's captaincy that has been particularly impressive. He has strategically rotated his bowlers, contributing to Hyderabad's success. Cummins has also been a valuable lower-order batsman, with a highest score of 35 not out.Starc, on the other hand, has been finding his form just in time for the World Cup. He took 3 for 38 against the Lucknow Super Giants and 4 for 33 against the Mumbai Indians in recent matches.The IPL final will be followed just six days later by the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. Cummins led Australia to victory in the 50-over World Cup last year, and he will be hoping to lead Hyderabad to their second IPL title.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs are upon us, and five Australians have made their mark in the regular season. Here's a comprehensive analysis of their performances:Top Performers:Travis Head emerged as Australia's standout performer, finishing third in the run-scoring charts with 533 runs at a staggering strike rate of 201.13. His opening partner, Abhishek Sharma, was the only other player to surpass 350 runs while striking at over 200.Jake Fraser-McGurk had an extraordinary debut season, trumping Head in terms of strike rate and batting impact per game. His 330 runs from nine innings, including four half-centuries at a strike rate of 234.04, was remarkable considering he was a replacement player.Pat Cummins had an outstanding season with the ball, despite not having impressive wicket-taking numbers. He had one of the best economy rates among fast bowlers and made valuable contributions with the bat when needed.Solid Contributors:Marcus Stoinis had a good IPL, scoring 388 runs with a century and two half-centuries. His strike rate was above his career average but below the tournament average. He also made some contributions with the ball, taking four wickets.Cameron Green made a strong finish to the IPL, contributing with either bat or ball in six of his last seven matches. He scored crucial runs in the middle order and took nine wickets at an excellent economy rate of 8.82.Under-Performers:Mitchell Starc, the most expensive purchase in IPL auction history, had underwhelming bowling returns. He conceded more than 11 runs per over, making him one of the most expensive bowlers in the tournament.David Warner did not perform to his usual high level, hampered by a finger injury. He was dropped for the last game of the season despite being fit to play.Glenn Maxwell had one of his worst IPLs, registering low scores and being dropped twice. However, he delivered in RCB's must-win match against CSK, boosting his confidence ahead of the playoffs.Scarcely Played:Nathan Ellis, Matthew Wade, Spencer Johnson, Ashton Turner, and Jhye Richardson played limited roles in the IPL. Ellis impressed in his one game for Punjab Kings, while Wade and Johnson had minimal impact for Gujarat Titans. Turner and Richardson only played three games between them.

Abhishek Sharma, the explosive left-handed batsman from Punjab, has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. His blistering batting has earned him high praise from none other than premier pacer Pat Cummins, who admitted that he would be reluctant to bowl to Sharma due to his intimidating presence at the crease.Sharma's exceptional performance this season has been a revelation. Batting at a strike rate of 209.41, he has amassed 467 runs from 13 matches, including 39 sixes and 35 fours. His ability to dominate both pacers and spinners has made him a nightmare for bowlers.In Sunrisers Hyderabad's recent four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings, Sharma blazed away to a 28-ball 66, hitting six sixes and five fours. His innings played a crucial role in SRH's successful chase of Punjab's target of 215.Cummins, Sharma's skipper at SRH, was full of admiration for his young teammate. "He (Abhishek) is amazing. I wouldn't want to bowl to him. It's scary as he plays with freedom, not only against pacers but also against spinners," Cummins said.Sharma's success this season can be attributed in part to his work with batting great Brian Lara, who was involved with the SRH franchise in the past. "I have done some work with him, he's in touch. That's helping me now," Sharma revealed.Sharma's aggressive approach at the crease is a reflection of his determination to make a mark in the IPL. "During Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I was clear how I was going to play and dominate in the IPL," he said. "I'm just waiting for the loose balls, I am going hard against them and trying to put them (bowlers) under pressure."With SRH on course for a top-two finish, Sharma's contributions will be crucial in their quest for the IPL title. His fearless batting and ability to take on the opposition's best bowlers make him a valuable asset for his team.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have secured their spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs after their match against Gujarat Titans (GT) was abandoned due to rain on Thursday. The result means that SRH has joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the top four.SRH captain Pat Cummins has been instrumental in the team's success, leading them to several crucial victories. In a heartwarming gesture, Cummins was seen playing cricket with school children in Hyderabad, showcasing his love for the game and his connection with the local community.The match against GT was a crucial one for both teams, with SRH needing a win to secure their playoff berth. However, the rain played spoilsport, forcing the match to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. As per IPL rules, both teams shared a point each, which was enough for SRH to qualify for the playoffs.SRH now has 15 points from 13 matches, while GT remains in fifth place with 12 points. SRH will face Punjab Kings in their final league match on Sunday, while GT will take on Chennai Super Kings.The playoffs race is now heating up, with the top two spots still up for grabs. SRH needs to beat Punjab Kings and hope that RR loses to KKR to have a chance at finishing in the top two.The remaining playoff spot will be decided by the clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday. RCB currently has 14 points, while CSK has 12 points. A win for RCB will secure their playoff berth, while CSK will need to win and hope that other results go their way.The IPL 2024 playoffs are set to be an exciting affair, with several teams vying for the coveted trophy. SRH's qualification is a testament to their hard work and determination, and they will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament.