Pat Cummins' Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a convincing six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2024 clash on April 6. This win showcased the captaincy skills of Pat Cummins once again. Chasing a target of 166 runs, SRH openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, got them off to a flying start. While Head fell early, Sharma continued his aggressive knock, scoring a quickfire 37 runs off just 12 deliveries. Aiden Markram anchored the chase with a solid 50 off 36 balls, guiding his team to victory in 18.1 overs.
Pat Cummins' captaincy masterclass on display
Cummins' captaincy decisions also played a crucial role in the win. One notable choice was sending the young Abhishek Sharma to open alongside Head, a move that surprised many as the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar was sidelined for the opening duties.
Earlier, CSK posted a decent total of 165/5 on the board, with Shivam Dube top-scoring with a blistering 45 off 24 balls. The SRH bowling attack displayed a collective effort, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Pat Cummins himself, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Jaydev Unadkat each taking a wicket.
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Tom Moody wasn't just complimentary towards Pat Cummins' captaincy, he took it a step further. Moody compared Cummins' leadership style to the legendary MS Dhoni. This is a significant comparison, highlighting his belief that Cummins possesses similar strategic brilliance and on-field decision-making prowess as the iconic Indian captain.
"The one thing I like about Cummins is he is a bit like MS Dhoni. He is prepared to make a decision that most people don’t think about, but makes you feel like ‘Why didn’t I think about that?’ Like the Abhishek Sharma over. It was quite an odd decision when you look at the other options they could have gone with," Moddy said.
"You have arguably the best new ball bowler in IPL history in Bhuvneshwar Kumar. You have got an off spinner against left-handers. You think Markram would be another one. There was plenty of other ways he could have gone. But he committed to that and it looked like from the get go, he convinced himself that it was the right decision," former SRH's head coach concluded.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's victory wasn't just about securing two crucial points. This win propelled them up the points table to the coveted fifth position. They've now secured four points from their four matches played so far.
ALSO READ: IPL 2024 Points Table: SRH break into top 5 after rocking CSK; GT, PBKS slip a place down
Chennai Super Kings, despite the loss, remain in a comfortable position at number three in the standings. They too have four points, but hold an advantage over SRH due to a superior net run rate. Following the match, SRH captain Pat Cummins addressed the media and said:
"First thing is always to get the points. Wouldn't want to be bowling to him (Abhishek) and Trav Head at the top. Crowd was crazy tonight. When MS walked out, it was as loud as I've ever heard."
SRH will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 9 while Ruturaj Gaikwad's CSK will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 8. While SRH have moved to fifth place in the IPL 2024's points table, CSK are stationed at no.3 in the standings following table toppers RR and Rajasthan Royals.
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