The game? Easy. But, the travel? Not so much. Well, that is what Pat Cummins believes, as the new Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper spoke out on how the travel involved in the two-month-long IPL season and different-style preparations to face a variety of teams is certainly a huge challenge.
Cummins has been undoubtedly one of the best captains in world cricket over the past couple of years, achieving all forms of success with Australia, as he led them to a successful ODI World Cup win and a successful Ashes retainment.
The Aussie was undoubtedly one of the hottest prospects coming into the IPL Auction last December and he surely fetched his fair reward as he became the costliest player in IPL auction history when Sunrisers Hyderabad bid Rs 20.50 crore for him before being overtaken by Mitchell Starc who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75 crore.
Cummins, who’s captaining a T20 side for the first time in his career, talked about his mindset coming in to face the new challenge as SRH skipper.
“It’s a format I’ve never captained before. Tomorrow (Saturday) is going to be my first game. With a bit of preparation, I’m good to go,” Cummins said on the eve of their IPL opener against Kolkata Knight Riders.
“It’s got its challenges. You play 14 games in six-seven weeks, plus finals. I’m used to playing a lot of Test cricket, so four overs isn’t as taxing on your body. But it can be mentally taxing to travel, you’re playing a new team every few days you’ve got to prepare for.
“But it’s nothing new, we’ve done it before, so obviously the game days are the most important, that’s where we put most of our energies into. No team plays the same XI all 14 games.
Named as the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2023, Cummins will be expected to lead not just as the skipper but from the frontlines with the ball, as the Aussie pacer, along with veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar, are the only experiences bowlers in their squad.
“We have got loads of experienced guys excited with the lineup. Bhuvi I will be leaning on a lot. We have got a lot of experience and young guys as well,” stated Cummins.
“It’s T20 cricket, you will be hit around, not worry about too much. So it will be up for the experienced guys to help the youngsters’ out.”
SRH’s opener against KKR, is funnily enough also the clash of the two Aussie pacers, Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who are the two costliest players in IPL history as well,.
“I can’t remember when I played against him. It will be an interesting part of tomorrow. We are both bowlers so there won’t crossover too much,” Cummins signed off.
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