IPL 2023: Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Aiden Markram left everyone speculating at the toss of another possible rift in the SRH camp ahead of their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Hyderabad have had a forgettable season this year, with only four wins behind their name, and are languishing right at the bottom of the table. Umran Malik was expected to be a part of the playing XI for SRH against RCB in Hyderabad.
Updated May 18, 2023 | 10:35 PM IST
Makram clueless On Malik’s omission sparks another possible rift in SRH camp post-Warner fiasco.
Photo : Twitter
“We would’ve looked to bat ourselves, our bowlers have been our stronger suit. Couple of changes: Harry Brook comes back in, Kartik Tyagi and Nitish, the debutant, are in. (About Umran Malik) Not too sure to be honest. Certainly, he’s a player with the X factor, bowls at 150kph, but I don’t really know what’s about behind the scenes but he has a lot of X factor. Lots of pride to play for. Guys are full of energy and determination,” Markram said at the toss.
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle also took to Twitter and wrote, “It is a bit worrisome when the captain says ‘I don’t know what is about behind the scenes……’ I have been perplexed about Umran Malik not getting a game too.”
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan wasn’t too pleased with the way Malik was handled by SRH and let his displeasure known on Twitter earlier in the week.
“League’s fastest bowler sitting out baffles me. Umran Malik wasn’t handled well by his team,” he wrote.
After being sent in to bat first, SRH didn’t quite get off to a great start but Heinrich Klaasen’s 51-ball 104 ensured that they reach a respectable total at the end of their quota of 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bangalore would be hopeful that they can chase it down as a loss would pretty much knock them out of the playoff race.
“When you are dropped from the team you have loved the most for years without any real fault of yours and stripped of captaincy without being given a reason, it hurts,” Warner told Economic Times.
