Sun Group today announced Sunrisers as the new name for Hyderabad Indian Premier League team and expressed confidence that they will do well and cheer cricket fans all over.
The diversified media company described Sunrisers as symbolising the birth of a new life and its logo depicts an eagle soaring high, looking into the core of a rising sun, absorbing its colours.
The Chennai-based company, which won the IPL franchisee through an auction, named former Australian cricketer Tom Moody as team coach, Kris Srikkanth, team mentor and strategist and former Hyderabad test cricketer V.V.S.Laxman as mentor and brand ambassador for the team.
K. Shanmugam, Chief Executive Officer of Sunrisers, said: “Sunrisers is a wonderful value creation opportunity for the Sun Group. This franchisee will help the Sun Group to attain synergy among its varied interest.’’
Srikkanth said they have retained 20 players from the Hyderabad team retaining Kumara Sangakkara as its Captain with Dale Steyn, J.P. Duminy, Cameroon White, among other players. “We will also take part in the auction process slated for next month and look forward to picking up couple of good all-rounders,’’ he said.
The Sun Group plans to announce its marketing, business plans and possible co-sponsors for the event in due course.
The group team joined the IPL league following a successful bid. The earlier franchisee team of Deccan Chargers, which was managed by the Hyderabad-based media house and a part of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, was removed from IPL by the Board for Control of Cricket in India.
Speaking on behalf of Sunrisers, Srikkanth said he had a long association with Hyderabad. In fact, his innings against touring Pakistani team in 1980’s helped him get into the big league of cricket.
Tom Moody hoped he would be able to help the team through to success. This is challenging and the focus is on building a good team and help them achieve success.
rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in