Ishan Kishan to Captain SRH in Early IPL 2026 Matches | Pat Cummins Update
Hyderabad, India – Ishan Kishan has been named interim captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the early stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the franchise confirmed on . The appointment comes as regular captain Pat Cummins continues his recovery from a lumbar stress injury that sidelined him during Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign.
Kishan’s captaincy will be effective until Cummins receives medical clearance to return to the field. The Australian fast bowler is expected to join the SRH squad in Hyderabad on , but there is no firm timeline for his return to competitive play. The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will face SRH in the season opener on in Bengaluru.
Alongside Kishan’s elevation, SRH has also announced that opener Abhishek Sharma will serve as the team’s vice-captain. This marks the first time in IPL history that all ten teams will be led by Indian players, at least temporarily, until Cummins’ return. The franchise released a statement confirming the interim leadership structure: “Pat Cummins will miss a few games while recovering from injury. Until he recovers, Ishan Kishan will be the Captain and Abhishek Sharma will be the Vice-Captain.”
The decision to appoint Kishan reflects his recent strong form and leadership qualities. He powered Jharkhand to their maiden domestic title in December , captaining the team to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Kishan was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings, a performance that earned him a recall to the Indian national team after a three-year absence. He subsequently secured a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad, eclipsing Shubman Gill in the selection process.
Kishan’s international resurgence has been impressive, scoring 532 runs in 13 T20Is since the start of the year, averaging 40.92 with a strike rate of 207.00. He registered three half-centuries during the World Cup and contributed a crucial fifty in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, alongside Abhishek Sharma.
SRH acquired Kishan for INR 11.25 crore at the IPL auction. In his debut season with the franchise, he delivered a strong performance, scoring 354 runs at a strike rate of 152.58, including an unbeaten century on his first appearance for the team and a 94 not out towards the finish of the season.
Cummins has been managing a lumbar stress issue for some time, limiting his participation in Australia’s home season to a single Test match against England in Adelaide in mid-December. He took six wickets across two innings in that match, helping Australia retain the Ashes. The injury ultimately prevented him from playing a significant role in the T20 World Cup.
Both Kishan and Sharma played pivotal roles in India’s T20 World Cup triumph, though neither had previously captained an IPL team. Sharma, while having a quieter tournament also contributed a valuable half-century in the World Cup final.
The appointment of Kishan as captain presents an opportunity for the wicketkeeper-batter to showcase his leadership skills on a larger stage. His recent success with Jharkhand and his strong form with both bat and glove make him a logical choice to lead SRH in Cummins’ absence. The team will be looking to Kishan to provide stability and inspiration at the top of the order, while Sharma’s promotion to vice-captain recognizes his growing influence within the squad.
The early part of the IPL season will be crucial for SRH as they aim to build momentum and establish themselves as contenders. The team will demand to navigate Cummins’ absence effectively and rely on Kishan and Sharma to lead from the front. The return of Cummins will undoubtedly provide a significant boost, but until then, SRH will be hoping that Kishan can successfully steer the ship and maintain their competitive edge.