Pat Cummins to Miss IPL 2026 Start, Ishan Kishan Takes Over as Captain
Pat Cummins' Injury Leaves SRH in a Bind
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faces a significant setback as their captain, Pat Cummins, is expected to be sidelined at the beginning of IPL 2026. The franchise has not provided a timeline for his return, and there is a possibility he may miss the entire season. Cummins is currently dealing with a back injury and has not participated in any competitive matches this year, including the 2026 T20 World Cup. His absence will leave SRH without their most experienced fast bowler. A week prior to the season's commencement, cricket analyst Aakash Chopra pointed out SRH's vulnerabilities, particularly in their bowling lineup. He expressed concerns that the team might struggle to contain high scores, stating, 'There will be challenges because the bowling has been dealt a serious blow. Pat Cummins was already not there. So the bowling was already slightly weak, and if Eshan Malinga is also not there, it means you will have to play Brydon Carse, or else you won’t be able to play with Indian bowling.' He further elaborated on the team's bowling options, mentioning players like Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, and others, but emphasized that the overall bowling strength appears lacking. 'If they score 250, they might concede 250,' he added. Since Cummins has not been officially ruled out for the entire season, SRH has opted not to announce a replacement for him yet. It remains uncertain how many matches he might participate in if he travels to India for the T20 league.
Ishan Kishan Steps Up as Captain
Ishan Kishan to Lead SRH
In light of Cummins' absence, Sunrisers Hyderabad has appointed Ishan Kishan as the new captain. The former captain of the India U19 team will be supported by Abhishek Sharma. Kishan, who was part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad, will be making his debut as an IPL captain. He previously led Jharkhand to victory in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which earned him a spot in the T20 World Cup team. This new role in IPL is a significant milestone for him. Abhishek Sharma is also stepping into a leadership role for the first time in an IPL franchise. He began his IPL journey with Delhi Capitals in 2018 and was traded to SRH before the 2019 season, where he has been a consistent performer, accumulating 1753 runs for the team.