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Steyn is said to have informed the franchise about his unavailability for this year's IPL.

Dale Steyn will not be a part of the SunRisers Hyderabad coaching team for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Cricbuzz has learnt that the South African pace legend has requested permission to take a break from the IPL duties this year. He is expected to return next season, pending all necessary arrangements and requirements.

The 40-year-old pacer, who had played 93 Tests, 125 ODIs, and 47 T20Is in an illustrious career, is said to have informed the franchise management about his unavailability this year. The franchise has initiated the search for a new bowling coach, with an announcement anticipated soon.

The onus of appointing a new bowling coach for the side now falls to coach Daniel Vettori, who is believed to be looking for a suitable candidate. However, the former New Zealand skipper did not respond to inquiries regarding this matter. Steyn too did not respond to messages from this website.

As a player, Steyn had played for both Deccan Chargers (now defunct) and Sunrisers Hyderabad. After a brief stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, he returned to Hyderabad in the capacity of a bowling coach in 2022. He is credited with playing a significant role in the development of Umran Malik from a rookie pacer to an international bowler. Umran recently earned a fast bowler contract from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Pat Cummins may be appointed skipper

Meanwhile, the franchise is expected to announce Pat Cummins as the new skipper for the upcoming season. The Australia captain was acquired for Rs 20.5 crore in the last auction in Dubai and is highly regarded as an international captain. The change was expected for quite some time since Cummins is highly respected in international cricket. The fact that Cummins works with franchise head coach Vettori in the Australian national team also increases his chances to be appointed as the skipper.

Aiden Markram led the side in the last two IPL seasons but without significant success. Despite this, Markram's successful leadership of SunRisers Eastern Cape, a subsidiary of the franchise, during the first two seasons of the SA20, bolsters his credentials. Cummins too has not done much in the IPL.

However, his illustrious achievements at the international level, including his contributions to Australia's triumph in the World Test Championship (WTC) and World Cup, both at the expense of the Indian team, may ultimately influence the decision of the management to place faith in his leadership.