Ishan Kishan to Lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in Cummins’ Absence for IPL 2026

Ishan Kishan has been named as the stand-in captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the initial phase of IPL 2026. The franchise confirmed the move after Pat Cummins, their usual skipper, was ruled out due to a lumbar stress issue that also kept him out of Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Abhishek Sharma will serve as the vice-captain, assisting Kishan in leading the team through the early matches of the season.

Cummins’ Recovery and Return Timeline

Cummins is expected to join the SRH squad in Hyderabad on March 23 after receiving clearance from Cricket Australia. The IPL 2026 season kicks off on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on SRH at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the highly anticipated SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 opener.

“This will be the first time in IPL history that all ten franchises will have Indian captains, at least until Cummins takes over,” noted the franchise. While no official date has been set for Cummins’ return to playing, SRH anticipate he might miss several opening games.

Cummins has struggled with the lumbar stress issue for a while, which limited him to just one match in Australia’s home season. He played in the third Test against England in December in Adelaide, taking six wickets across 34 overs to help Australia secure a 3-0 lead and retain the Ashes.

Kishan’s Form and IPL Credentials

Both Kishan and Sharma played pivotal roles in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph. This marks the first time either player has captained an IPL side.

SRH secured Kishan for INR 11.25 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. In his debut season with the franchise, he amassed 354 runs at a strike rate of 152.58, including an unbeaten century on debut and a 94* later in the campaign.

Kishan enters IPL 2026 on the back of a sensational comeback to India’s T20I side, having scored 532 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.92 and a strike rate of 207.00, including three half-centuries at the World Cup. Both Kishan and Sharma also contributed fifties in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, highlighting their form and readiness to lead SRH in the early matches.