“It can be mentally taxing to travel,” SRH skipper Pat Cummins reveals the biggest problem he will face in IPL

Pat Cummins has previously played seven seasons in the IPL.

“It can be mentally taxing to travel,” SRH skipper Pat Cummins reveals the biggest problem he will face in IPL

Pat Cummins (Image via Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Pat Cummins recently led Australia to two World Cup titles in the 2023- the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup. Thanks to his achievements as captain, he was recently appointed as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). 

On March 22nd, Pat Cummins faced the press for the first time as SRH captain. Playing his 7th IPL season, the Australian captain admitted that traveling takes more energy than playing a match. 

YouTube video
It's got its challenges. You play 14 games in six-seven weeks, plus finals. I'm used to playing a lot of Test cricket, so four overs isn't as taxing on your body. But it can be mentally taxing to travel, you're playing a new team every few days you've got to prepare for. 
Pat Cummins to the press

Cummins has never captained a T20 side and this stint with SRH is his first role as captain. His first match will be against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday night. 

Pat Cummins will find it weird to not be in same dugout as Australian teammate

Ever since the start of their career, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have been in the same team. Hailing from Sydney, both played for New South Wales and got into the Australian side together as well. Now the two have been separated in the IPL, with SRH having Cummins and KKR having Starc. Cummins admitted that it was weird he would not share a dressing room with his Australian teammate. 

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc (Image via ESPN)
It's funny, it's one of the beauties of the IPL; I have been playing with Starcy for 15 years, I can't remember another game where I have played against him. Also it's going to be weird looking across and seeing him in the other dugout.
Pat Cummins to the press

Both players are also the most expensive players in the history of the IPL. Cummins was sold for ₹20.5 crore, while Starc went for ₹24.75 crore. 

The Aussie skipper has played 42 IPL matches, scalping 45 wickets at an economy rate of 8.54. He opted out of IPL 2023 due to the jam-packed international schedule.

In the 2022 IPL, the 30-year-old played just five matches and picked up seven wickets. Despite being a fast bowler, he displayed his batting prowess when he hit the second-fastest half-century in IPL 2022 (an unbeaten 56 off just 14 balls).

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