Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) decision to replace Aiden Markram as captain for the upcoming IPL season has left former South African cricketer AB de Villiers surprised and disappointed. Markram has been replaced by Pat Cummins for IPL 2024 after leading Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back SA20 titles.
De Villiers acknowledged Cummins' experience and leadership qualities but questioned the timing of Markram's removal. He feels that, particularly given his recent success, Markram deserves more time to prove himself.
De Villiers also raised concerns about possible Australian influence within the SRH franchise. The appointment of Pat Cummins, along with the presence of Daniel Vettori, coach of both SRH and the Australian national team, and the potential involvement of Andrew McDonald in SRH's coaching setup, suggests an Australian influence on the team.