Pat Cummins Out: Ishan Kishan SRH’s New IPL 2026 Captain
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Pat Cummins’ back injury has opened the door for Ishan Kishan to captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in the nascent stages of IPL 2026. Abhishek Sharma assumes vice-captaincy duties, as confirmed by the franchise Wednesday ahead of their blockbuster opener.
SRH faces Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28 at Bengaluru’s iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium—a clash that could define early narratives in the tournament.
SRH’s X post clarified: ‘Injury keeps Pat Cummins out of early games. Ishan Kishan leads as captain, Abhishek Sharma as vice-captain till his return.’
The Aussie skipper’s hiatus started after December 2025’s third Ashes Test in Adelaide. Hit by a lumbar bone stress injury post-West Indies, he forfeited the Ashes tail-end and T20 World Cup 2026. Expect him back strengthening SRH later.
Ishan Kishan transitioned to SRH for IPL 2025 and lately steered Jharkhand to Syed Mushtaq Ali triumph. This IPL captaincy initiation tests his mettle in the big league.
Homegrown talent Abhishek Sharma, since 2019, synergizes explosively with Travis Head. In India’s dominant T20 World Cup run, Kishan’s three half-centuries paired with Abhishek’s rapid 18-ball fifty in the final sealed a 96-run win. Their chemistry could propel SRH to the summit.
