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Ishan Kishan to Captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 as Pat Cummins Recovers

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been appointed the stand-in captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the initial matches of IPL 2026. He will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, who is recovering from a lumbar back injury. Abhishek Sharma will serve as the vice-captain during this period, supporting Kishan in his first IPL captaincy stint. The franchise begins its campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28.

Key Points: Ishan Kishan Named SRH Captain for IPL 2026 Start

  • Ishan Kishan named stand-in captain
  • Pat Cummins out with back injury
  • Abhishek Sharma appointed vice-captain
  • Cummins missed Ashes and T20 World Cup
  • SRH opens IPL 2026 vs RCB on March 28
2 min read

IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan to captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pat Cummins' absence

Ishan Kishan will lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in early IPL 2026 matches, with Abhishek Sharma as vice-captain, while Pat Cummins recovers from injury.

"Pat Cummins will miss a few games while recovering from injury. Until he recovers, Ishan Kishan will be the Captain - SRH"

Hyderabad, March 18

Wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan will lead Sunrisers Hyderabad for the first few matches of the Indian Premier League 2026, standing in for Australian legend Pat Cummins, who is yet to recover from a back injury, the franchise announced on Wednesday.

SRH have also stated that No.1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma will be Kishan's deputy during this period.

"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," SRH wrote in a post on X.

Cummins has not played competitive cricket since the third Ashes Test in Adelaide in December 2025, after being out of action post the tour of West Indies due to a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back.

He was subsequently ruled out of the remaining Ashes matches and the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup due to the same issue. The all-rounder is expected to join the team in the later stages of IPL 2026.

Kishan, who has been in the SRH camp since the 2025 IPL, captained Jharkhand to winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in the recent domestic season and has strong credentials to lead the side in Cummins' absence. He has never captained any team in the IPL, and it will be his first stint as a leader in the world's biggest cricket league.

Abhishek, meanwhile, joined SRH ahead of IPL 2019 and has been a mainstay with the side - forming an ultra-attacking opening partnership alongside Australia's Travis Head. While the in-form Kishan hit three fifties in India's triumphant T20 World Cup win, Abhishek finally found mojo to smash a half-century off just 18 balls in the final, which India won by 96 runs. He will look to continue the form in IPL 2026, where he will be the vice-captain of the side.

SRH, the IPL 2016 winners, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Get well soon, Pat Cummins! 🙏 But honestly, this is exciting. An all-Indian leadership duo for SRH for the first few matches. Ishan and Abhishek have great chemistry from the World Cup. Can't wait for March 28th!
R
Rohit P
Back injuries are tricky. Hope SRH management isn't rushing Cummins. The season is long, we need him fit for the playoffs. Ishan is a good stop-gap, but Pat's experience is irreplaceable.
S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan from abroad living in India now, I love seeing young Indian talent get these leadership chances. The IPL is such a great platform. Abhishek's 18-ball fifty in the final was insane! Hope he carries that form.
V
Vikram M
Good decision. Ishan has the fire. But my only concern is his own batting form. Captaincy pressure is different. Hope he doesn't let it affect his explosive starts at the top. All the best to the young guns!
K
Kavya N
Exciting times for SRH! An Indian captain and vice-captain. This could actually be a blessing in disguise, building future leaders for the franchise. Abhishek Sharma has grown so much since 2019. Proud moment!

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