Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins says he has been “learning a lot” from team-mates Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain after the pacers helped secure a 55-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday night. The result confirmed SRH’s place in the Eliminator, though net run rate kept them out of the IPL’s top two.
Malinga, already the side’s leading wicket-taker with 19 in 14 matches, and debutant Sakib, who has 15 in 10, combined for 3 for 64 from eight overs on a flat Hyderabad surface. Their economy rate of exactly eight was tidy considering SRH had piled up 255 for 4.
“They’ve been fantastic,” Cummins said. “I’ve actually learned a lot off those guys as well, the way Eshan’s bowled all season, particularly in that powerplay, he’s been the form bowler of the comp, with his slower balls and he’s mixing up different things, and of course, Sakib there as well, so captain’s dream.”
The pair struck early, sharing three powerplay overs and claiming a wicket each to stall RCB after Venkatesh Iyer’s brisk start. From that point the chase never seriously threatened.
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch liked the way Cummins deployed himself and the rest of the seam attack. “Like how Cummins has used himself as the enforcer,” Finch said on television commentary. Ambati Rayudu pointed to the “consistency and accuracy” of Cummins’ short balls, noting the captain’s willingness to rotate quickly when conditions demanded.
SRH’s final-day target was ambitious. To jump beyond Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans on the table they needed not only to win but also to hold RCB below 166. “It’s a pretty good wicket. I knew a lot of things had to go our way,” Cummins admitted. “Yeah, it got close. I think they were trying to make sure they got to that score, so we threw a few different things at them, but yeah, it’s still a big win.”
The regular season ends with SRH, RCB and GT all locked on 18 points. Superior net run rate sends GT and RCB to Qualifier 1 on 26 May, while SRH head for the Eliminator a day later. Their opponents will be whichever of Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings or Kolkata Knight Riders squeeze into fourth spot.
A long road remains, yet Cummins’ side take confidence from pace depth that continues to evolve. Malinga’s canny slower balls, Sakib’s fresh energy and Cummins’ own ‘enforcer’ spells offer variety, control and, as the skipper puts it, “a captain’s dream”.
