Sunrisers Hyderabad have made a temporary leadership change ahead of IPL 2026. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been named acting captain for the early matches of the season.
Regular captain Pat Cummins is currently recovering from a back injury and will miss the first few games. During his absence, Abhishek Sharma will serve as the vice-captain.
Leadership Change at Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad confirmed the leadership update through a short announcement on their official social media account.
The franchise said that Pat Cummins is still recovering from a back problem and will not be available for the opening matches of IPL 2026. To maintain stability in the team, Ishan Kishan has been chosen to lead the side until Cummins returns.
Cummins’ back injury had already kept him out of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and also affected his participation in parts of the 2025–26 Ashes series. The team management wants to give him enough time to recover fully before returning to captaincy duties.
Ishan Kishan’s IPL Career Statistics
Ishan Kishan has been one of the most aggressive wicketkeeper-batters in the IPL. He is known for his attacking batting style and ability to score quickly at the top of the order.
Ishan Kishan IPL Career Record
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Catches | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 119 | 112 | 2998 | 29.10 | 137.64 | 1 | 17 | 288 | 134 | 59 | 5 |
His experience as both a batter and wicketkeeper makes him a strong option to lead the team during Cummins’ absence.
Also See : Suryakumar Yadav Reveals the 4 People Behind His Appointment as India’s T20I Captain
Ishan Kishan’s IPL 2025 Season with SRH
Kishan delivered solid performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous IPL season.
IPL 2025 Performance
| Matches | Runs | Strike Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 354 | 152.58 | Included one century and one half-century |
He was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 11.25 crore and quickly became an important player in the batting lineup.
T20 World Cup 2026 Performance
Kishan also performed well during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, showing his ability to score quickly against top teams.
T20 World Cup 2026 Stats
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 317 | 35.22 | 193+ | India’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament |
These performances helped strengthen his reputation as an aggressive top-order batter.
What This Means for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Ishan Kishan’s appointment gives Sunrisers Hyderabad a leader who is already a regular member of the playing XI.
His aggressive batting, wicketkeeping skills, and recent form will be important for the team during the early matches of the tournament.
Abhishek Sharma, who has been named vice-captain, will support Kishan both on and off the field.
The leadership change ensures the team has a clear structure until Pat Cummins returns.
SRH First Match in IPL 2026
Sunrisers Hyderabad will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM IST |
Cummins may miss this match and possibly a few more games while continuing his recovery.
