South African batsman Aiden Markram has been named as the new captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise signed Markram in 2022 for INR 2.6 crore, and he has been a part of the Hyderabad setup since then. The announcement came after the team released former captain Kane Williamson before the IPL 2023 player auction, leaving the side on the lookout for a new leader.
Markram’s successful stint as the skipper of SRH-owned Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the inaugural SA20 tournament played a crucial role in him being chosen as the team’s captain. His excellent batting performances and leadership skills during the tournament convinced the Hyderabad-based franchise to give him the captaincy.
Markram was the standout performer for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 IPL edition, scoring 381 runs in 12 innings of 14 matches throughout the season and hitting three half-centuries. He was also handy with the ball and chipped in whenever necessary.
THE. WAIT. IS. OVER. ⏳#OrangeArmy, say hello to our new captain Aiden Markram 🧡#AidenMarkram #SRHCaptain #IPL2023 | @AidzMarkram pic.twitter.com/3kQelkd8CP
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) February 23, 2023
Mayank Agarwal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were other experienced players in the SRH unit who were considered for the captaincy, but Markram was preferred over others based on his recent stint at the SA20 tournament.
The franchise made the official announcement of Markram’s captaincy on their social media account on February 23, Thursday. Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking to Markram to continue his excellent form and bring momentum to the IPL as they aim to win their third IPL title. They will open their campaign on April 2, 2023, against Rajasthan Royals.
