Ishan Kishan to Lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in Early IPL 2026 Matches as Pat Cummins Recovers

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have confirmed that Ishan Kishan will captain the team during the early matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. This decision comes as regular captain Pat Cummins continues his recovery from a lower back injury.

Cummins, who was also left out of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, is undergoing medical treatment and is expected to arrive in Hyderabad on March 23 after receiving clearance from Cricket Australia. The team has not confirmed exactly when Cummins will return to competitive action, but there is a strong chance he may miss the first few fixtures.

Abhishek Sharma has been named vice-captain for the opening matches, providing support to Kishan in tactical and on-field leadership. Both Kishan and Sharma were key contributors to India’s victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, delivering crucial half-centuries in the final against .

For Kishan, this IPL season promises to be significant. Acquired for INR 11.25 crore in the 2025 auction, the 25-year-old finished the previous season with 354 runs, including a century. He also led to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, establishing himself as a reliable and aggressive top-order batsman.

The 2026 IPL season is set to kick off on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on SRH. While Kishan lacks previous IPL captaincy experience, his recent form, aggressive batting style, and leadership in domestic and international cricket suggest he could give Sunrisers Hyderabad a strong start to the season. Since returning to international cricket, Kishan has scored 532 runs in 13 matches at an impressive strike rate of 207.

With IPL teams relying heavily on Indian captains at the start of the season due to Cummins’ absence, Kishan’s performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. His leadership could set the tone for Hyderabad’s campaign in this highly competitive edition of the tournament.