'I call him the machine' - Mayank Agarwal extols newly appointed SRH skipper Aiden Markram

In the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, Sunrisers Hyderabad will usher in a new era under the leadership of South Africa's newly appointed T20I skipper Aiden Markram. Earlier this month, Markram was chosen to lead the team as the captain. The success of SRH this year will depend heavily on Markram and senior pro Mayank Agarwal.

The duo will be expected to work in tandem if they wish to replicate their performance from the 2016 edition and win the coveted trophy for the second time. Having spent some time in the camp with all the players ahead of the 16^th edition of the IPL, Agarwal opened up on his relationship with the team’s skipper, and their plans going forward.

The Karnataka batter was all praise for Markram while addressing the same on SRH's YouTube handle, as he said:

“He is a great guy. Apart from being a fantastic cricketer, he is a great guy. So that tells you a lot about him. I call him the machine, and that’s for a reason. Somebody who works really hard on his game, who really thinks a lot about his game, and who is genuinely a great guy, and who has a very happy and relaxed vibe around him.”

I am really looking forward to playing under him: Agarwal

The SRH management has made plenty of strategic changes over the years, and as a result, Markram became the third captain that the side has seen in three years. The Hyderabad franchise has frequently struggled with an unbalanced squad, glaring instability, odd team selections, and a propensity to falter in close matches.

“I am really looking forward to playing under him because we had a bond when we played for Punjab. I’m really looking forward to building on that when we play now for SRH,” Mayank added.

Yet, the fans will be anticipating SRH to deliver a successful IPL 2023 season given Aiden Markram’s recent outings as a skipper. In February 2023, Markram led Hyderabad’s SA20 team Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a title win in the tournament’s inaugural edition. His exploits as a batter and his leadership skills helped him get the leadership role on his national side. SRH have managed to put forth a strong unit and Markram will be aiming to give his best, just like he did at the SA20.

Click here for IPL 2023 Schedule