Franchise based cricket hasn’t been kind on Australia’s Test and ODI skipper, Pat Cummins in recent times. Cummins lost the final of the MLC 2024 edition, leading the San Francisco Unicorns (SFU). They were beaten by Washington Freedom (WAF) in both the Qualifier as well as the Final with Aussie teammate, Steve Smith leading them throughout the competition.
Cummins’ SFU lost the final in a one-sided bout with WAF coming out at the top with a 96-run victory. Despite winning the toss, a terrible performance by both the bowling and batting unit resulted in disappointment for Cummins’ team.
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Although Cummins picked up two important wickets, including that of opposition skipper Steve Smith he had minimal support from his other teammates as SFU got bundled out for just 111 runs while chasing a target of 208 runs.
Despite being one of the top pace bowlers int he world, Cummins had a disappointing MLC campaign with the ball, picking up just four wickets in six games throughout the competition.
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What happened in IPL 2024 final?
Previously, Cummins led IPL side, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2024 IPL season. The team seemed to be flourishing under Cummins’ captaincy with both the batter and bowlers in terrific form throughout the season. Cummins’ SRH finished second in the group stages, making a comfortable entry into the playoffs.
However, things didn’t go as planned for the Hyderabad side in the playoffs as they lost both the Qualifier 1 and the Final to eventual champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). SRH got completely dominated in both the games.
SFU saw a similar fate in the playoff round under Cummins’ leadership, losing both the Qualifier and Final game against WAF in convincing fashion.
In between the two finals, Cummins also played for Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, wherein the Kangaroos bowed out in the Super 8 stages after disappointing losses to Afghanistan and then eventual champions, India. Despite the disappointment, Cummins became the first player to get multiple hat tricks in T20 World Cup history.
Cummins’ failure in franchise based cricket comes as a surprise, especially after winning big on the international stage. Cummins led Australia to glory in 2023, winning the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup, defeating India in the final on both occasions.
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