By Dale Steyn will not be part of the SunRisers Hyderabad coaching team for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), as he has requested permission to take a break from IPL duties this year. The 40-year-old South African pace legend, who had a distinguished career playing 93 Tests, 125 ODIs, and 47 T20Is, is expected to return next season, pending all necessary arrangements and requirements. The franchise has initiated the search for a new bowling coach, with an announcement anticipated soon.
Coach Daniel Vettori is now tasked with appointing a new bowling coach for the side. However, both Vettori and Steyn have not responded to inquiries regarding this matter. Steyn had played for both Deccan Chargers (now defunct) and Sunrisers Hyderabad as a player and returned to Hyderabad as a bowling coach in 2022, playing a significant role in the development of young pacer Umran Malik.
Meanwhile, the franchise is expected to announce Pat Cummins as the new skipper for the upcoming season. Cummins, who was acquired for Rs 20.5 crore in the last auction in Dubai, is highly regarded as an international captain. The change in captaincy was expected, given Cummins’ stature in international cricket and his working relationship with franchise head coach Vettori in the Australian national team. Aiden Markram led the side in 2023 but without significant success, despite his successful leadership of SunRisers Eastern Cape in the SA20. Cummins’ achievements at the international level, including his contributions to Australia’s triumph in the World Test Championship (WTC) and World Cup, may influence the management’s decision to place faith in his leadership.
