Last Updated:
Ishan Kishan will lead Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026 with Abhishek Sharma as his deputy as Pat Cummins recovers from injury.
India’s Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma batting together (PTI)
India’s wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was named as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their initial matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign — with left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma as his deputy, as regular captain Pat Cummins is still recovering from a back injury.
SRH took to social media to announce: “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.”
???????????????????????????????????????????????? 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. pic.twitter.com/etXJUkQJeG
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 18, 2026
SRH, the IPL 2016 champions, will start their IPL 2026 campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.
Why Pat Cummins Is Not Available?
Cummins has not played competitive cricket since the third Ashes Test in Adelaide in December 2025, after being sidelined due to a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back following the West Indies tour.
This injury ruled him out of the remaining Ashes matches and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, who were part of the Indian team that won the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, are in the race to lead SRH in Cummins’ absence.
Skipper Ishan Kishan
With Kishan being announced as SRH’s captain, with Abhishek as his deputy, it will be the first time the Jharkhand star has led an IPL side.
Kishan, who has been with SRH since the 2025 IPL, recently led Jharkhand to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Eyy Bidda idhi ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? Adda BTS from the IPL campaign shoot pic.twitter.com/LyZhJ0odvM
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 18, 2026
Abhishek, who joined SRH ahead of IPL 2019, has been a key player for the team, forming a formidable opening partnership with Australia’s Travis Head. Kishan was in excellent form, scoring three fifties during India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, while Abhishek smashed a half-century off just 18 balls in the final, which India won by 96 runs.
Will SRH Miss Cummins?
However, Cummins’ absence for the initial games is a significant blow for SRH, depriving them of both their captain and most reliable bowler in an already vulnerable bowling department, despite having one of the most powerful batting line-ups in the competition.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 18, 2026, 17:28 IST
Read More
