Indian left-handed batter all set to captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pat Cummins’ absence in IPL 2026. However, not Abhishek Sharma but Ishan Kishan is likely to step up for SRH as their skipper.
There has been some major confusion over the social media buzz surrounding Abhishek Sharma’s appointment as the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in Pat Cummins’ absence for the first few games of the IPL.
However, Times of India reports have claimed differently, and it seems that Abhishek Sharma’s ill fate in 2026 continues after the T20 World Cup, as a golden opportunity to lead an IPL franchise has been snatched away from him.
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Ishan Kishan’s ‘bull run’ continues with a new role for SRH in 2026
Indian batter Ishan Kishan is having his fortune speak for him in 2026, as he made a shocking return to the Indian XI just at the doorstep of the T20 World Cup and then emerged as their most consistent performer with 317 runs in his maiden T20 World Cup tournament.
After the tremendous success with the Indian team, he has now been handed a promotion by the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the IPL. The Jharkhand skipper, who led them to an SMAT title in 2025, will now lead SRH in Pat Cummins’ absence.
Cummins’ availability is a major uncertainty this season. The Times of India reports have claimed that SRH management has had a long discussion, and they have decided that Kishan best suits the role of wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the Australian World Cup-winning captain.
Ishan Kishan’s heroics in the ICC T20 World Cup
Ishan Kishan played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He scored 317 runs, the second highest for India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with a blistering strike rate of 193.
He ended his campaign with three half-centuries, and including one in the final, he helped India get past tough opposition. He believed that his performance could motivate the young kids who wanted to grow. He also claimed that the World Cup win showed how hard work can lead to success for any cricketer.
Speaking of his future goals after the ICC T20 World Cup, he claimed that his goal is simply to play good cricket, score runs, and keep winning in whichever format and for whichever team he plays.
Kishan’s performance for SRH in IPL 2025
Kishan was bought at a whopping price by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, which showed how much they anticipated from the Indian left-hander. Ishan Kishan also started off his tournament with his maiden IPL hundred and set the stage for a successful run in the tournament.
However, his form dipped after that century, as he could manage not more than 354 runs for them in 14 matches with a strike rate of 152.58. Throughout his IPL career, Ishan Kishan, who has also played for the Mumbai Indians, has amassed 2998 runs in the IPL in 119 appearances.
With 17 half-centuries and a century, Kishan has hit 288 fours and 134 sixes, which reflects on his boundary-hitting ability and clean striking of the white ball. As a wicket-keeper, he has contributed to 59 catches and five stumpings in his IPL career.
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