One of the most vividly celebrated captains of Australian cricket, the super silencer of the crowd and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper, Patrick Cummins celebrates his 31st birthday today, i.e., May 8, 2024.
The superman from New South Wales has been an indestructible barrier, or an impenetrable code, for the Indian cricket team, as under his leadership Australia beat India in the finals of the World Test Championship 2023 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Nonetheless, he is still regarded as one of India’s favourite Aussie cricketers, perhaps second only to David Warner.
The right-arm fast bowler, tipped as a future star from a young age, made his Test debut at 18 but had to wait six years for his next appearance due to injuries. The bowler rose to prominence in 2017 and was quickly identified as one of the best in the world. The New South Wales-born player had a phenomenal Test debut, grabbing seven wickets in an intriguing two-wicket win over South Africa at the Wanderers. Due to his impressive pace bowling and intelligence, he was also given a central contract for 2011-12, making him the youngest player to be contracted since the current system that was implemented in 1998.
Following Australia’s ball-tampering scandal, the Australian cricket fans needed a new hero and undoubtedly Pat became one. He developed into the most accomplished Test bowler in the world, earning him recognition with the 2019 ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year Award and Australia’s prestigious Allan Border Medal for Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2018–19.
Having been identified as a future captain, his promotion came sooner than anticipated as Tim Paine stepped down right before the 2021-22 Ashes.
Nonetheless, keeping with Cummins’ reputation as a cricketer and leader, the transition was almost flawless. A few months later, he retained the Ashes and led Australia to victory in Pakistan on their first tour in 24 years.
As of 2024, the bowler has 269 wickets in Tests, 141 in ODIs and 57 in T20Is. On the other hand, the right-handed player has scored over 1200 runs in Tests and 592 in ODIs.
Talking about his IPL career, Cummins has played for numerous teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Daredevils [now Delhi Capitals (DC)], and now SRH. The 31-year-old also grasped the record for the fastest fifty in the IPL for one season, sharing it with KL Rahul, after reaching the milestone in 14 balls while playing for KKR against the MI in 2022.
Moreover, Cummins was the most expensive player purchased at the IPL Auction 2024 for almost two hours after he was sold to SRH for INR 20.50 crore. The side, currently, is fourth in the points table with 12 points and is looking sharp to qualify for the playoffs. Notably, in the past, Australian skippers Adam Gilchrist and David Warner have led the Hyderabad franchise to the IPL title. With Cummins being the third Aussie to lead the Hyderabad team, it will be intriguing to see whether history repeats itself.
Being one of the most accomplished cricketers of the generation, the pacer also fits into the bracket of being a marketable cricketer. Cummins secured several brand endorsements, which have undoubtedly enhanced his brand value. Let’s look at the Australian bowler’s net worth, endorsements, and charitable contributions.
Networth:
Cummins’ approximate net worth is INR 320 crore ($40 million), primarily generated from his contracts with Cricket Australia (CA), IPL, and other endorsement deals. In recent years, his net worth has increased by an impressive 170%.
Endorsements:
The SRH skipper signed several endorsement deals over the years. Big names like New Balance, Gillette, Carrera, Kayo Sports, Lyre’s Spirit, Nexba, WeAre8, Rario, Dr Electrify, Mawde, Gatorade, David Jones, Hublot, and Healthquad are among his brand endorsement portfolio.
Charity:
Pat Cummins launched the Good Hands initiative to support the UNICEF Australia-supported Indi Kindi program, a revolutionary early childhood solution for children under five in remote Aboriginal communities that integrates wellness, education, and development to give children the best start in life.
In 2021, he also donated $50,000 to the PM Cares Fund in the fight against coronavirus.