Ishan Kishan Takes Charge as SRH Captain in IPL 2026: What to Expect?

In a significant development for IPL 2026, Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, stepping in for the injured Pat Cummins. Abhishek Sharma will serve as vice-captain during this period. Kishan, who has shown impressive leadership skills in domestic cricket, will lead the team as they prepare to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their opening match. This marks Kishan's first captaincy role in the IPL, and fans are eager to see how he navigates this new responsibility. With a strong performance in the recent T20 World Cup, both Kishan and Sharma are expected to bring their A-game to the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 18, 2026, 17:52 IST

Ishan Kishan Steps Up for Sunrisers Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the initial matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. This decision comes as Australian star Pat Cummins continues to recover from a back injury, as confirmed by the franchise on Wednesday.

In this interim period, Abhishek Sharma, the top-ranked T20I batter, will serve as Kishan's vice-captain.

The franchise announced on X, "Pat Cummins will miss several games while he recuperates. Until his return, Ishan Kishan will lead the team, with Abhishek Sharma as his deputy."

Cummins has been sidelined from competitive cricket since the third Ashes Test in Adelaide back in December 2025, following a lumbar bone stress injury sustained during the West Indies tour.

He was subsequently ruled out of the remaining Ashes matches and the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup due to this injury. The all-rounder is anticipated to rejoin the squad later in the IPL 2026 season.

Kishan, who joined SRH for the 2025 IPL season, previously led Jharkhand to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during the last domestic season, showcasing his leadership potential. This will mark his debut as a captain in the IPL, the premier cricket league globally.

Abhishek Sharma, who has been with SRH since IPL 2019, has established himself as a key player, forming a dynamic opening partnership with Australia's Travis Head. Kishan recently made headlines by scoring three fifties during India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign, while Abhishek found his rhythm, scoring a rapid half-century off just 18 balls in the final, contributing to India's 96-run victory. He aims to maintain this momentum as the vice-captain in IPL 2026.

The IPL 2016 champions, SRH, will kick off their IPL 2026 journey against the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.