IPL 2026: ‘Pat normalizes the game’ – Inside Cummins’ management style at SRH

NEW CHANDIgarH: Pat Cummins has played just seven matches in this IPL season, missing the first half of the season as he recovers from a lower back injury. When he joined Sunrisers Hyderabad midway through the season, the team faltered a bit and was outside the top four in the points table. Now with the league phase over, SRH find themselves in the playoffs for the second time in three years, with Cummins leading the team to five wins from their last seven. This is not a coincidence.SRH assistant coach James Franklin knows exactly what Cummins brings to the team. His contribution goes beyond the ball he throws. “We all know his (Cummins’) great qualities as a leader, not only for SRH but also for Australia,” Franklin said ahead of the Eliminator clash between Sunrisers and Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. “Especially, I think when you talk about the young pitchers on our team, they have a captain who’s also a pitcher, and he really has that empathetic side to him. Empathy makes Pat a special captain.”That understanding, Franklin said, comes from Cummins, who knows what it feels like for a pitcher to be at the top of his mark, under pressure and playing down the line. He does not read these moments as a distant captain, but as someone who has lived them. “He understands how pitchers feel at the top of their mark when they’re under pressure, what kind of ball they’re going to potentially throw, how they’re going to try and execute,” Franklin said. “He’s understanding and knows what’s going to happen.”

What quality of Pat Cummins do you think is most important to young pitchers?

The management of Cummins has made a visible difference in the SRH dressing room. Younger fast bowlers like Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain believe that their captain will not just demand execution but guide them through stressful situations. “It’s great for the youngsters; they know they have a captain who really understands how they feel,” Franklin said. “Pat’s leadership under pressure is one of his strong qualities as a leader.”This lead becomes most important during the knockout game. Asked how Cummins is handling the pressure of an elimination game, Franklin said, “Pat just normalizes the game and I think the players respond to that wonderfully. The spirit of the group is the same. He’s incredibly consistent.”