Ex-Champion Team’s Captain on Chopping Block Following Rohit Sharma: Report

The SunRisers Hyderabad IPL franchise is reportedly set to undergo significant changes ahead of the 2024 edition, according to a report by Cricbuzz. It is anticipated that Aiden Markram, who led SRH in the previous season, will be replaced as captain by Australian skipper Pat Cummins. Cummins, renowned for leading Australia to victories in both the World Test Championship final and Cricket World Cup final last year, is poised to take on this new role.

This potential alteration in captaincy follows a recent trend in the IPL, as evidenced by the Mumbai Indians replacing Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain in December last year.

Moreover, Sunrisers Hyderabad is also expected to see a change in their coaching staff, with former New Zealand left-arm pacer James Franklin likely to step in as the bowling coach. Dale Steyn, the former South African fast bowler who served as SRH’s bowling coach in 2022, has requested time off for personal reasons this season.

Sources within the IPL revealed that talks are ongoing with Franklin, who brings a wealth of experience, having previously played for Mumbai Indians in the 2011 and 2021 seasons. Despite this being his inaugural coaching stint in the IPL, Franklin has coaching experience with Durham in English county cricket and as an assistant coach with Pakistan Super League team Islamabad United.

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Franklin will reunite with former teammate Daniel Vettori, who took on the role of SRH’s head coach after IPL 2023. The duo has previously collaborated at Middlesex in county cricket and with Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred.

Having represented New Zealand in 31 Tests, 110 ODIs, and 38 T20Is between 2001 and 2013, Franklin brings a blend of playing and coaching expertise to SunRisers Hyderabad.