The Midas touch that Pat Cummins has enjoyed in his captaincy career has helped propel him to another major international final, this time with Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad. Cummins, who's taken Australia to a triumph in the World Test Championship and 50-over World Cup in the last year, was thrilled to lead his success-starved team to the final of T20's juggernaut event on Friday, steering them to a comfortable 36-run semi-final win over Rajasthan Royals in Chennai. It was another feather in the leadership cap of the 31-year-old pacer, whose remarkable success has long since silenced any of those critics who doubted his tactical acumen.
Once again also leading from the front, with his four overs going for just 1-30 as the Royals stumbled to 7-139 in pursuit of 176, Cummins coaxed another impressive tune out of his side, who've been the boldest, most attacking outfit in the whole league in the 2024 edition. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. "It is a fantastic occasion, for the whole franchise, there's about 60 or 70 of us in the changing room, with the coaches and the staff and everyone who puts their heart and soul into this team," enthused Cummins after setting up a final rematch with the Mitchell Starc-powered Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on Sunday.
"So it's really gratifying, and hopefully we can go one more." It will be another pacers' showdown between the two biggest overseas signings in the IPL's.