Aiden Markram, the newly-appointed skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad, has suggested that former Indian captain MS Dhoni should play in South Africa’s top-tier league, SA20. Markram recently led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to victory in the inaugural season of the league, defeating Pretoria Capitals in the final.
Markram believes that Dhoni possesses all the right qualities to play in SA20 and his experience could greatly benefit local players. “To be honest with you, someone like MS (Dhoni) would be great to have in your camp just for the guys to learn from him. He has all the knowledge and our local players in South Africa will benefit a lot from him. There are a lot of other players but he is the one that comes to mind,” said Markram during a virtual press conference.
On February 23, the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise announced Markram’s appointment as captain for the upcoming season. He will be replacing Kane Williamson after leading Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a triumphant season in the recently concluded SA20 League.
Markram expressed his enthusiasm for the responsibility of captaincy, stating, “In terms of the responsibility, you do naturally enjoy it. You always want to win as sportsmen and when you happen to be the captain, that even exaggerates it more. You want the team to always do well and satisfy the fans. You want to give your all, if it works out, it works out, it doesn’t, it is part of the game.”
In addition to leading his team to victory, Markram was also among the top run-getters in the league. He scored 366 runs in 12 outings, including a century, and claimed 11 scalps. After a disappointing performance in IPL 2022, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking to compete for the title in the upcoming season under Markram’s leadership.
