AB de Villiers Backs Daniel Vettori's New Role as SunRisers Hyderabad Head Coach

The former South African cricket captain, AB de Villiers, has enthusiastically thrown his support behind the appointment of Daniel Vettori as the new head coach of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Vettori officially assumed the reins as the SRH head coach on August 7, succeeding the legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara. The former New Zealand captain has a notable coaching history, having previously led the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise from 2014 to 2018.

Currently serving as the assistant coach for the Australia men’s team, Vettori's expertise and dedication to the well-being of athletes have been recognized and celebrated by De Villiers. The South African cricketer, in his reaction to the news on his YouTube channel, spoke highly of Vettori's qualities:

“I’ve played alongside and against Daniel Vettori, and I’ve been under his leadership – it’s an interesting dynamic. Dan has accepted a coaching position with SunRisers Hyderabad. I played under him as RCB coach a few years back, and I must say he’s a wonderful human being, a fantastic individual. His unshakable dedication to the well-being of his athletes is outstanding; exactly the qualities you look for in a coach. SunRisers are expected to have a successful season. “With their young squad, I am confident that Dan is the right man to lead them forward.”

Currently leading the Birmingham Phoenix men’s team in The Hundred, Vettori's coaching experience spans across various leagues, including the CPL with the Barbados Royals, the Big Bash League with the Brisbane Heat, and the Vitality Blast with Middlesex. He has also contributed as a spin-bowling consultant for the Bangladesh men’s team.

During Vettori’s previous coaching stint, RCB achieved playoff qualification in 2015 and reached the IPL final in 2016, eventually falling short against SunRisers Hyderabad.

Brian Lara had taken over the coaching duties for Hyderabad ahead of the 2023 IPL season. However, the team's performance under his leadership was disappointing, finishing at the bottom of the rankings with only four wins out of 14 matches. The decision was made to part ways with Lara, leading to Vettori's appointment as the new head coach, with high expectations of revitalizing the SunRisers and guiding them to a successful season.