In a major blow to their campaign, the Manchester Super Giants have lost skipper Aiden Markram midway through the current season of The Hundred. The South African star, who was roped in for £200,000 during the pre-season auction as the tournament's sole foreign captain, has flown back home for personal reasons and will play no further part in the competition.
Aiden Markram out of The Hundred due to personal reason
According to reports from Cricinfo, Markram’s sudden departure leaves a significant leadership void just as the team pushes for a spot in the knockouts. Steering the franchise through the rest of the 100-ball tournament falls to veteran England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler. Buttler, the former national team captain, has been in electric form with the bat and will now step up to captain the side for the crucial remaining fixtures.
Bracewell replaces Markram, Buttler takes charge of Manchester Super Giants
To fill the void left by Markram, the Manchester Super Giants have drafted experienced New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell for the remainder of the season. The 35-year-old franchise veteran—who previous featured for Southern Brave in 2024—brings a wealth of high-level experience from over 100 white-ball appearances for the Black Caps alongside stints in top T20 leagues like the IPL. His dual capability as a explosive middle-order hitter and reliable spin bowler provides much-needed balance to the squad.
ALSO READ: Mohammed Shami snubs Gautam Gambhir, names Ravi Shastri as favourite India coach
Before his sudden exit, Markram had compiled 117 runs across five appearances, signing off with a fiery 26-ball 50 against MI London at The Oval on August 2. His departure comes at a precarious time for the Super Giants, who currently sit sixth in the standings after a lukewarm start, picking up just two victories from their opening five fixtures. With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the franchise faces an uphill battle to turn their campaign around in the final stretch.
Meanwhile, Buttler has been lighting up the tournament with a series of dominant performances at the crease. Through five outings, the dynamic opener has amassed 226 runs while maintaining an astounding 112.00 average, clearing the ropes 14 times, the second-highest tally in the competition so far. Taking over the captaincy during this run-heavy form, he will look to channel his personal momentum into driving the Super Giants toward a strong finish.