As the IPL 2025 prepares to restart following its brief pause due to increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, franchises will look to re-establish their teams for the second half of the season. While most foreign players have been requested to return to their teams by Tuesday, some availability for the Australian players remains unclear.
One of those impacted is Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), now under the command of Australian pacer Pat Cummins. With SRH out of playoff contention, though, news indicates that Cummins might not return to India for the rest of the season. This brought up an important question.
Who can take the place of Pat Cummins as SRH captain?
- Heinrich Klaasen – The Perfect T20 Captain
Heinrich Klaasen is now the top odds-on candidate to take over the SRH captaincy while Pat Cummins is out. With a fearless batting style and one could say a calm, cool, collected demeanor, Klaasen already has a taste of the captaincy, although that was with T20 international matches for South Africa.
Like Cummins, Klaasen has a proven record in dealing with pressure, leadership credentials, and strong experience. As a result, he would be a natural replacement for Cummins, should that be necessary.
Klaasen’s tactical sense and unwavering game awareness can give SRH a solid and experienced hand at the helm when Cummins pulls out.
- Ishan Kishan – A Promising Indian Captain in the Making
Another worthy challenger is Ishan Kishan, the electric wicketkeeper-batsman who has captained Jharkhand at home. With SRH potentially eyeing developing an Indian captain in the long run, Kishan might be a visionary selection.
Given the polarized reviews of Pat Cummins’ captaincy this year, a successful campaign by Kishan in the last matches can lead SRH management, which is headed by Kavya Maran, to think seriously about him as a long-term captaincy option.
- Jaydev Unadkat – The Domestic Veteran
Although Jaydev Unadkat is not the most likely choice, his captaincy record in Indian domestic cricket is outstanding. As Saurashtra captain, he has taken his side to three Ranji Trophy finals in the last five seasons, winning two titles. His knowledge of Indian conditions and composed leadership could prove to be a great asset.
Jaydev Unadkat’s Captaincy Stats (Ranji Trophy):
| Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 18 | 8 | 13 | 46.15% |
While he would not have an international celebrity stature like Pat Cummins, the cricketing IQ of Unadkat might find use with SRH at this time of change.
Life Post-Pat Cummins – What Should SRH Look For?
If Pat Cummins decides to sit out the rest of IPL 2025, SRH has some interesting captaincy alternatives to choose from. Heinrich Klaasen has overseas leadership experience, Ishan Kishan can provide a youthful spark and long-term potential, while Jaydev Unadkat has a steady, domestic-aware alternative.
The choice would determine the future of Sunrisers Hyderabad more than this year, and everyone waits with bated breath for Kavya Maran to choose SRH’s next course of action in the absence of Cummins.
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