Sunrisers Hyderabad have appointed Ishan Kishan as their interim captain for the opening matches of IPL 2026. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper batter steps in for regular skipper Pat Cummins, who continues to recover from a persistent back injury.
Abhishek Sharma will serve as Kishan’s deputy during this period. Sources close to the franchise told Cricbuzz that the arrangement is strictly temporary and Cummins will take charge once he regains full fitness. An official announcement is expected shortly.
How Long Will Ishan Kishan Lead SRH
Cummins has not played competitive cricket since the third Ashes Test in Adelaide in December 2025. A lumbar bone stress injury ruled him out of the remaining Ashes matches and forced him to miss Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year.
The Australian captain will report to the SRH camp on March 23 and undergo rehabilitation with the franchise in India. Reports suggest he could miss the first three matches of the season, though an exact return date remains unclear.
His absence leaves SRH without their leader and most reliable bowling option in what many consider the squad’s weakest department. The franchise will rely on Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, and Jaydev Unadkat to shoulder the pace bowling workload in the early fixtures.
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SRH Opening Fixtures Under Kishan’s Captaincy
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 28 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| April 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Away |
| April 5 | Lucknow Super Giants | Home |
Kishan enters the role riding a strong form after a brilliant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. He scored 317 runs in nine innings at a strike rate above 193, finishing as India’s second-highest run scorer in the tournament. The 27-year-old also captained Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in the recent domestic season.
SRH finished sixth in IPL 2025 after reaching the final the previous year. The franchise hopes Kishan’s aggressive approach and leadership experience can give them a strong start while Cummins completes his recovery.
