The Midas touch that Pat Cummins enjoyed during his captaincy career helped him reach another major international final, this time with his Indian Premier League team Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Cummins, who guided Australia to 50-over wins at the World Test Championship and World Cup last year, was delighted to lead his success-hungry side to victory in Friday’s T20 mega-event final, guiding them to a comfortable 36-and-a-half. The final was won against Rajasthan Royals in Chennai.
It’s another feather in the cap of a 31-year-old pitcher whose extraordinary success has silenced critics who doubted his tactical acumen.
Cummins once again led the way from the front, taking just 1-30 from his four deliveries as Royals chased down 176 for 7-139, Cummins set another impressive tune for his team , a team that’s been dressing the league’s boldest, most offensive team this season.
“It’s a great moment for the entire team, we have about 60 or 70 people in the locker room, the coaches, the staff and everyone who is dedicated to this team,” Cummins was arranging. Said after the final.
“So it’s really pleasing and hopefully we can go again.”
It will be another showdown between the Pacers’ two biggest overseas signings in IPL history – the $3.67 million Cummins, who once held the record for the most expensive catch in an IPL auction until Starc Acquired by KKR for $4.43 million.
Cummins’ Hyderabad teammate Travis Head will get a second chance as KKR eased to win the first post-season meeting between the two sides in Ahmedabad on Tuesday after being dropped by international teammate Sri Lanka Starc’s beauty captures a duck.
Hyde returned on Friday, only this time in more of a supporting role after serving as the leader for much of the season.
His 34 off 28 balls at the end of the innings was indeed at a snail’s pace compared to most of his brilliant starts to the season, but it was still a snail’s pace after the Sunrisers struggled to 3-57 An important and stable contribution.
Heinrich Klaasen’s 34-ball fifty helped Hyderabad chase 9-175 while Avesh Khan took 3-27 in four overs Inflicted huge damage on the Royals.
Cummins helped stave off the chase by suppressing and taking the wicket of the out-of-form Tom Kohler-Cadmore, taking 1-10 from two overs in the opening spell before he Released Shahbaz Ahmed (3-23) and Abhishek Sharma (2-24) to lead Sunrisers to third IPL final, but only their first in six years .
However, every Hyderabad fan will have faith in the ‘Captain Australia’ to lead them to their first title since 2016.
