Pat Cummins Lauds Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain as SRH Stars Shine
A Captain’s Perspective on Bowling Mastery
Pat Cummins, widely regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in world cricket today, has openly admitted to refining his own craft by observing his Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) teammates during the 2026 Indian Premier League. The Australian star highlighted the significant impact of Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain, whose tactical nous and execution have proven vital to the team’s campaign this year.
The Impact of Malinga and Sakib
The statistics underscore the importance of this bowling pair. Eshan Malinga has established himself as the leading wicket-taker for SRH, claiming an impressive 19 scalps in just 14 appearances. Meanwhile, rookie sensation Sakib Hussain has enjoyed a stellar debut season, securing 15 wickets in only 10 matches. Their contribution was perhaps most evident during Friday night’s resounding 55-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
During that encounter, the duo combined for figures of 8-0-64-3. Their ability to utilize variations, particularly the slower ball, proved decisive in stifling RCB’s momentum during the chase. Achieving a combined economy rate of 8.00 in a match where SRH posted a mammoth 255 for 4 is a testament to their control and maturity under pressure.
Strategic Success in the Powerplay
Malinga and Sakib were instrumental during the powerplay phase, taking the new ball and slowing RCB down immediately after a blistering start from Venkatesh Iyer. Their combined three overs in the opening powerplay secured a wicket apiece, shifting the tactical advantage back to SRH.
Reflecting on their performances, Cummins was full of praise: “They’ve been fantastic. I’ve actually learned a lot off those guys as well, the way Eshan’s bowled all season, particularly in that powerplay, he’s been the form bowler of the comp, with his slower balls and he’s mixing up different things, and of course, Sakib there as well, so captain’s dream.”
Playoff Implications for SRH
The win against RCB was a high-stakes affair. While SRH ended the league stage tied on 18 points with both RCB and the Gujarat Titans (GT), they narrowly missed out on a top-two finish due to a lower net run rate. For SRH to leapfrog RCB, they needed to restrict their opponents to a score below 166—a daunting challenge given the batting-friendly conditions at the Hyderabad venue.
Cummins acknowledged the difficulty of the task, noting that while the team threw everything they could at the RCB batters, the conditions made it extremely difficult to keep the scoring rate as low as required. “It’s a pretty good wicket. I knew a lot of things had to go our way,” he added. “Yeah, it got close. I think they were trying to make sure they got to that score, so we threw a few different things at them, but yeah, it’s still a big win.”
Looking Ahead to the Eliminator
With the league stage concluded, the tournament enters its most intense phase. RCB is set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 26. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad will prepare for the Eliminator on May 27. They await the outcome of the final table positions, with Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders still in the mix to secure the final playoff berth. Regardless of the opponent, the clinical form of Malinga and Sakib ensures that SRH remains a formidable threat as they push for the title.
