IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan Named SRH Acting Captain, Abhishek Sharma To Be His Deputy

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Ahead of the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Sunrisers Hyderabad have named Ishan Kishan as the stand-in captain. The decision is taken by the franchise after Pat Cummins is set to miss the opening few matches of IPL 2026 due to injury.

Abhishek Sharma will serve as the vice-captain of the side. Cummins is still recovering from a back injury, which has kept him out of the T20 World Cup 2026 and parts of the 2025-2026 Ashes series.

"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," the Hyderabad-based franchise said in a statement on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Ishan Kishan's Stint In IPL

Ishan Kishan has carved out a reputation as one of the IPL's most destructive wicketkeeper-batters. In 119 matches across three franchises, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has amassed 2,998 runs from 112 innings, maintaining an average of 29.10 and a strike rate of 137.64.

His record features one century and 17 fifties, along with 288 fours and 134 sixes, highlighting his attacking approach with the bat.

Behind the wickets, Kishan has been equally effective, registering 59 catches and five stumpings. During the 2025 season, his first after being bought for Rs 11.25 crore at the auction, he scored 354 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 152.58, which included a century and a half-century.

Kishan's form is currently on an upward trajectory. The 27-year-old enjoyed an outstanding T20 World Cup campaign, emerging as one of India's standout performers. He impressed both at the top of the order and later at No. 3 after Sanju Samson's return to the playing XI.

He ended the tournament as India's second-highest run-scorer, accumulating 317 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate exceeding 193.

When Will Sunrisers Hyderabad Play Their First Match Of IPL 2026?

Sunrisers Hyderabad will face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match of IPL 2026 on March 28 at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.