Former New Zealand all-rounder Daniel Vettori has been appointed as the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. The team made the announcement on Twitter, revealing that Vettori will be taking over from Brian Lara.
Sunrisers Hyderabad has struggled in recent years, failing to replicate their previous success. Since IPL 2021, they have won only 13 out of 42 games. The team has undergone several coaching changes, with Vettori now becoming their fourth coach in six seasons.
Despite having strong players like Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the team underperformed under Lara’s coaching, finishing at the bottom of the table in the last tournament.
Vettori brings a wealth of coaching experience to Sunrisers Hyderabad. He previously coached Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2014 to 2018, leading them to playoffs in 2015 and 2016. Apart from his IPL coaching stint, Vettori has also coached teams like Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League and Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
Known for his exceptional performance in the longest format of the game, Vettori is considered one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. He scored 4,531 runs and took 362 wickets in 113 Test matches. With an average of 30, Vettori’s contributions with the bat and ball have been remarkable.
In 295 One Day Internationals (ODIs), Vettori scored 2,253 runs and picked up 305 wickets. He also played 34 T20 Internationals, scoring 205 runs and taking 38 wickets.
Vettori’s appointment is the latest coaching staff change ahead of the 2024 IPL season. Notably, Justin Langer replaced Andy Flower as the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants, while Flower took on the role of head coach for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
With this new addition to their coaching staff, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be hopeful of turning their fortunes around in the upcoming season. Vettori’s expertise and experience could prove instrumental in guiding the team to success. Only time will tell if his appointment will lead to a resurgence for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
