Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is facing a potential leadership challenge with their captain, Pat Cummins, dealing with an ankle injury.
Cummins, who was retained by SRH before the IPL 2025 mega auction, is crucial not only for his leadership but also for his bowling prowess.
If he is unable to participate in the tournament, SRH will need to appoint a new captain. Here are three players who could potentially lead SRH if Cummins is ruled out:
1. Heinrich Klaasen
Klaasen has significant leadership experience, having captained South Africa in nine matches and led the Momentum Multiply Titans to the Four-Day title in 2017-18.
As a wicketkeeper-batsman, Klaasen brings versatility to the team. He has shown his ability to perform under pressure, making him a strong candidate for the captaincy role.
In the IPL, Klaasen has demonstrated his batting prowess, scoring 479 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 171.07 during the previous season.
2. Travis Head
Head is the current vice-captain of the Australian white-ball team and has captained Australia in T20Is. He also served as the captain of South Australia at a young age.
As a left-handed batter and part-time off-spinner, Head offers a balanced skill set that can be beneficial for SRH.
His experience in leading teams makes him a viable option for captaincy.
Head had a successful IPL season, forming a strong partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order. He scored 567 runs in 15 matches with a strike rate of 191.55.
3. Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek has captained Punjab in domestic cricket and led the Indian U19 team to victory in the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup and the 2016 Under-19 Asia Cup.
As an all-rounder, Abhishek brings both batting and bowling capabilities to the team. His leadership experience at the youth level and in domestic cricket makes him a promising candidate.
Abhishek had a remarkable IPL 2024 season, scoring 484 runs in 16 games at a strike rate of 204.22
