Pat Cummins has been a let-down for Sunrisers Hyderabad

This edition of the Indian Premier League is turning out to be a nightmare for some of the heavyweight teams. As things stand, the exit of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings is certain. Worse, Sunrisers Hyderabad could also meet the same fate in coming days.

Before the start of the IPL this summer, only Sunrisers had a captain from overseas, Pact Cummins. The Test captain of Australia was also on an injury break, so to come back to the IPL was fraught with risks. Rewind to the last edition of the IPL, Sunrisers had made it to the final, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.

A lot has changed in less than one year, though Cummins being retained as captain was seen as something high profile. The reason, he is the only overseas captain left in the 2025 IPL as leader. Over the years, the way IPL teams have evolved, the reliance on foreign captains had gone down. New captains have emerged, though not all have come out with flying colours. At least, most franchises are wiling to try out the Indians, as it has a better connect.

If you look at the nine teams other than SRH, Chennai under MS Dhoni have looked stale. That is due to a lack of fresh legs and an over-reliance on marquee names. CSK is traditional and will not worry about what needs to be done for the 2026 edition of the IPL. However, for SRH, Pat Cummins’ failure as a captain and being unable to ensure good results will be seen differently. It is not as if SRH did badly in one match. They do have a top order which is famous for Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma but they have not shown the consistency and aggression as witnessed in previous years. Most teams which have done well in the 2025 IPL have solid batters at the top, be it RCB and Punjab Kings. Mumbai Indians have also climbed back strongly.

As for SRH, Pat Cummins has not been able to do something which can be defining to uplift the team. Sample some of the fast bowlers of other teams in this IPL, like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj and Prasidh Krishnam, they have been standout. Once upon a time, Pat Cummins was feared for his penetration and how he would single handedly lead the campaign. Maybe, he has lacked that same flair and not found the same energy. But the way it has impacted the Hyderabad team is getting noticed.

Cummins will be back to lead Australia in the ICC Test Championship final against South Africa this June, but that is of no concern to IPL fans. The team owners at SRH, Kavya Maran, and coaches included will spend team and analyse how Pat Cummins did not perform. How can a team not do well after finishing runner-up last year needs to be measured in the right spirit.

It is also a sign of changing times, how the IPL has seen home talent flourish. The young and fresh batters are fearless and bowlers are learning to improvise, be it pacers or spinners. This is where Pat Cummins rating drops in the 2025 IPL, as Hyderabad captain. Is it pressure or a bad year, even the Aussie pro needs to introspect.