RR vs SRH, IPL 2026: Why is Ishan Kishan not Captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad Today?

Rajasthan Royals are up against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an important IPL 2026 encounter on Saturday (April 25).

At the Toss, Ishan Kishan, who has been leading SRH this season, was not seen as Pat Cummins was back in the role.

RR vs SRH: Why is Ishan Kishan not Captaining Today?

Pat Cummins has reclaimed the Sunrisers Hyderabad captaincy for the match in Jaipur, ending Ishan Kishan's successful but temporary stint as stand-in leader. The Australian pace spearhead, who missed the first seven games due to a lingering back injury sustained last year, was cleared after positive scans and confirmed his availability on April 24. He leads SRH in the playing XI, replacing Dilshan Madushanka, while Kishan features as a key batter.

Kishan was appointed interim captain in March when Cummins' recovery delayed his arrival. The 27-year-old, who fetched ₹11.40 crore in the 2024 mega-auction, brought energy and tactical sharpness, guiding SRH to four wins in seven matches and a top-four spot. He even ditched wicket-keeping duties mid-season to improve on-field communication with bowlers, citing "miscommunication" when glued behind the stumps.

However, franchise management always viewed the role as temporary. Cummins, retained for ₹18 crore as the designated skipper, has now resumed duties at a pivotal stage, exactly halfway through the league phase. SRH sit fourth with a positive net run rate, and his experience is seen as vital for the playoff push. Kishan, who opened and starred with explosive knocks under pressure, remains a vital cog but without the armband tonight.

Pat Cummins wins the Toss

SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first as the Royals will bat on their home turf.

SRH Playing 11

Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (wk), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins(c), Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga

SRH Impact Subs: Smaran Ravichandran, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Travis Head