Ishan Kishan to lead SRH in Pat Cummins’ absence; Abhishek Sharma appointed his deputy

Ishan Kisan, fresh from playing a key role in the country’s recent T20 World Cup success, will take charge on an interim basis.

Updated on: Mar 18, 2026, 17:11:25 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Sunrisers Hyderabad have made a big call ahead of IPL 2026, handing Ishan Kishan the responsibility of leading the side in the opening matches as Pat Cummins continues his recovery from injury. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, fresh from playing a key role in the country’s recent T20 World Cup success, will take charge on an interim basis. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma has been named vice-captain, adding another young voice to the leadership group for the early part of the season.

Ishan Kishan named SRH's interim captain. (PTI)

“Pat Cummins will miss a few games while recovering from injury. Until he recovers, Ishan Kishan will be the Captain and Abhishek Sharma will be the Vice-Captain,” SRH announced on X.

It was a bold move from SRH, considering Kishan had only joined the side last season, but the franchise had invested INR 11.25 crore in him. His first campaign was a mixed one, as he managed 354 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 152.58, with a century and a half-century highlighting his performances.

Meanwhile, Ishan has been in terrific form since returning to the Indian team, playing a key role in the title-winning campaign. He scored 317 runs, including three centuries, one of which came in the final against New Zealand. He is expected to slot in at No. 3 in SRH’s batting order, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head likely to open the innings, giving the top order a strong and aggressive look.

Over the years, Kishan has put together a strong IPL record, playing more than 100 matches across different teams. The left-hander has scored nearly 3000 runs, striking at a healthy rate, while registering a century and several half-centuries along the way.

Abhishek Sharma named SRH's interim vice-captain

Meanwhile, Abhishek, who has been on a sharp rise in international cricket, has been named Ishan Kishan’s deputy. The duo currently occupy the top two spots in the ICC T20I batting rankings, underlining their impact at the highest level. Abhishek had a mixed T20 World Cup as he arrived at the tournament with plenty of expectations but endured a rough start, recording three successive ducks in Group A games against the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. He showed signs of recovery with a composed half-century against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage, building some momentum ahead of the final. When it mattered most, he delivered on the big stage, smashing 52 off just 21 balls, including the fastest fifty of the 2026 edition in 18 deliveries, powering India to a massive total of 255.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.