Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins revisited the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, the very venue where he led the Australian cricket team to a resounding victory over India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final on November 19. The Aussie side defied expectations, putting an end to India’s remarkable 10-match winning streak in the tournament to clinch a decisive six-wicket win, securing their record-extending sixth World Cup title.
Leading up to the title showdown, Cummins had famously stated that the Australian team aimed to “silence” the Indian crowd in the final—a goal they successfully achieved. As Cummins returned to the stadium as SRH skipper for the match against Gujarat Titans, memories of the historic victory flooded back. During the toss, former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra, acting as the host, asked Cummins whether the Narendra Modi Stadium felt like a “home ground” for him. In response, Cummins reflected, “Don’t know about that. Wonderful memories here; it was a packed stadium the last time we were here. Hopefully, much of the same.”
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In the 2023 World Cup final, Cummins elected to field after winning the toss, and the Australian bowlers managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals, restricting India to a total of 240 runs in fifty overs. Travis Head, who also featured in the SRH lineup against Gujarat Titans, played a stellar role in the run-chase, smashing a magnificent century with 137 runs as the Australians comfortably chased down the target in just 43 overs.
The defeat in the World Cup final was particularly disheartening for Rohit Sharma’s Indian team, which had maintained an unbeaten record throughout the tournament. With nine consecutive victories in the group stage, India emerged as the top-ranked team and showcased an outstanding performance in the semi-final against New Zealand, defeating Kane Williamson’s side by 70 runs.
SRH eye second win
The Sunrisers kicked off their IPL 2024 campaign with a strong start, despite a narrow four-run loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders in their opener. However, they quickly bounced back, making a remarkable comeback by breaking the record for the highest total in a single IPL innings. They posted a staggering 277/3 against the Mumbai Indians earlier this week, eventually securing a convincing 31-run victory over MI. Now, riding high on this momentum, the team aims to capitalize on their form as they gear up to face GT on Sunday.
