Brian Lara is all set to take the coach’s seat for the Hyderabad team in the Indian T20 League. The West Indian legend will replace Tom Moody, under whom the team won the 2016 Indian T20 League. The Australian joined the team in the year 2013 and stayed in the team till 2019. However, Trevor Bayliss replaced him as the head coach in the year 2020.
The Caribbean legend has been a part of the team and was earlier reported to take place in the coach position. ESPNCricinfo reported earlier that the Aussie coach and the team have parted ways and added that Lara might be elevated as the head coach.
“There is no confirmation yet on who could replace Moody, but ESPNcricinfo understands former West Indies captain Brian Lara, who was the strategic advisor and batting coach with Sunrisers in the 2022 season, could be a frontrunner,” ESPNCricinfo reports said.
Brian Lara to the rescue for the Hyderabad team
But this is no more a report as the team has confirmed the news on Twitter.
🚨Announcement 🚨
The cricketing legend Brian Lara will be our head coach for the upcoming #IPL seasons. 🧡#OrangeArmy pic.twitter.com/6dSV3y2XU2
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) September 3, 2022
The Hyderabad team qualified for playoffs for five straight years from 2016 to 2020. The team won the first-ever title under Tom Moody in 2016 led by the Australian southpaw David Warner. The Orange Army have not fared well in the last two seasons.
One might be surprised to know that the team has lost 19 of their last 28 matches and the worst performance came in 2021. The team that topped the 2018 season, ended up last in 2021 after winning only three of their fourteen matches. In the 2022 season, they did better, but not the best to qualify for the playoffs as they lost eight of their fourteen matches.
They would expect a different atmosphere with Lara as the head now. The mini-auction will be crucial and it will be up to the Caribbean to decide the players that he wants to retain. But for now, the fans can expect something different from the team and might as well qualify for the playoffs next season if they change the approach.
