Watch!: Drama at SRH Practice Match as Captain Ishan Kishan and Zeeshan Ansari Lock Horns

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Sunrisers Hyderabad's preparations ahead of IPL 2026 saw a fiery moment during an intra-squad practice match, as stand-in captain Ishan Kishan and young leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari were involved in a brief on-field exchange following a dismissal.

The incident occurred during the eighth over of the second innings, when Kishan appeared to be in complete control against the spinner.

Ishan Kishan Dominates Before Zeeshan Strikes Back

Ishan Kishan looked in fluent touch early in the over, launching an aggressive assault on Zeeshan Ansari.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed two sixes and two fours off the first four deliveries, putting the young leg-spinner under immediate pressure. However, Zeeshan responded strongly on the final ball of the over, deceiving Kishan with a fuller delivery.

Kishan mistimed the shot and was caught at deep square leg, bringing an end to what had looked like a commanding passage of play.

What followed next quickly drew attention.

After dismissing the SRH stand-in captain, Zeeshan delivered an animated send-off, pointing towards the pavilion and gesturing Kishan to walk back. The gesture triggered a brief argument between the two players, although Kishan appeared to laugh off the incident as he made his way back.

SRH Leadership Responsibility On Kishan Amid Cummins Injury

The moment comes at a time when Kishan has taken on additional responsibility within the franchise.

Sunrisers Hyderabad recently named Ishan Kishan as interim captain for the early part of IPL 2026, with regular skipper Pat Cummins currently sidelined due to a lower-back stress injury.

Cummins is expected to miss the opening matches of the season while completing his recovery, prompting the team management to hand over leadership duties to Kishan, with Abhishek Sharma appointed as vice-captain.

While the franchise has not specified the exact number of matches Cummins will miss, the leadership shift places Kishan firmly at the centre of SRH's early campaign.

Competitive Edge Or Cause For Concern?

Such heated exchanges during practice matches are not uncommon in high-intensity environments, particularly as teams build momentum ahead of a major tournament.

While the incident briefly raised eyebrows, moments like these often reflect competitive energy rather than deeper dressing-room issues.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the bigger focus will remain on finding rhythm early in IPL 2026-especially with leadership changes and key players returning from injury.