Pat Cummins will be at the helm of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the upcoming edition of the IPL. The Australia skipper and pacer was named captain on Monday, making him the franchise’s fourth captain in the last three years.

The 30-year-old quick, who is also a former Kolkata Knight Riders player, was bought by Sunrisers for Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL auction in December last year, making him the second costliest player in the league’s history.

The Sunrisers were led by Aiden Markram last year, when they finished at the bottom of the table. The South African captained Sunrisers’ SA20 team — Sunrisers Eastern Cape — to their maiden title this year, but that was not enough for him to save his top seat in the IPL.

The baton of captaincy has changed hands quite frequently at the Sunrisers in the last few years. It started in 2021 when the swashbuckling David Warner, who led the team to its only title win in 2016 and spent six years with the side, was sacked in the middle of the season. Kane Williamson was given the job instead.

Williamson continued at the helm during the 2022 season and under him, the team finished eighth in the standings. He was eventually released from the team. Thereafter, it went to Markram last year.

As Australia captain, Cummins has been hugely successful, leading the team to triumph in the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year with both wins in the finals coming against India. The Sunrsers will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against the Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on March 23.

The Sunrisers have also had changes in the support staff ahead of the season. Former New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has taken over from Brian Lara as the head coach.