Aiden Markram loses IPL captaincy as Cummins backed for Sunrisers

Despite taking the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back SA20 titles, Proteas T20 captain Aiden Markram will no longer captain the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL).

Australia fast bowler and World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins will replace Markram for this year's edition, scheduled to start from 22 March.

Under Markram's leadership last season, Hyderabad finished last (10th), winning just four of 14 matches.

Cummins, who took Australia to a Cricket World Cup triumph in India last year, had withdrawn from last year's IPL to focus on international cricket but re-entered the auction for the 2024 season.

The 30-year-old was bought for a Hyderabad record of INR 20.50 crore ($2.47 million approximately) at the IPL auction in Dubai in December.

READ | Proteas fast bowling ace Coetzee snapped up for R11.1 million by Mumbai Indians

2024 will be Cummins' seventh season in IPL, having previously been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders set-up.

#OrangeArmy! Our new skipper Pat Cummins ??#IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/ODNY9pdlEf

Last month, Markram led sister franchise, Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back SA20 titles following their 89-run victory against Durban's Super Giants in a sold-out final at Newlands.

With Cummins, Travis Head, Glenn Phillips, Proteas duo Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen all in the Sunrisers squad, Markram might even struggle to find a spot in the starting XI.

In addition to the latest captaincy change, Hyderabad have also named a new head coach, with former New Zealand left-arm spinner and captain Daniel Vettori taking over from West Indian great Brian Lara.

Former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn was also replaced as bowling coach by former New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin.

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