India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has emerged as the leading candidate to captain Sunrisers Hyderabad at the start of the IPL 2026 season due to uncertainty surrounding Pat Cummins’ fitness, according to a report by Times of India. The franchise management is understood to have discussed leadership options, with Kishan identified as the “most suitable candidate” should Cummins be unavailable.
Cummins has not featured in competitive cricket since sustaining a serious injury during the 2025–26 Ashes series, and there is reportedly no clear timeline on when the Australia pacer might return to action. Kishan, meanwhile, is coming off a strong T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in which he registered a half-century in the final against New Zealand.
Following India’s successful World Cup run, Kishan expressed hope that his performances could serve as inspiration for aspiring cricketers across the country. The wicketkeeper-batter finished the tournament as India’s second-highest run-scorer, with highlights including two Player of the Match awards against Namibia and Pakistan.
Ahead of the global event, Kishan had made his way back into the national setup for the first time since 2023 after an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season. Leading Jharkhand to their maiden title, he accumulated 517 runs in 10 innings, registering two centuries and two half-centuries.
Reflecting on the World Cup triumph, Kishan said, “Our team won, obviously, it is a very good thing, not only for us, but for the whole nation. We hope to continue playing cricket like this and keep winning.”
More Read
He also spoke about the importance of setting an example for younger players following his return to the side after being omitted from the central contracts list in 2024 due to alleged lack of commitment to domestic cricket.
“It feels great because I believe the better I perform, the more motivation it will be for the young kids here who want to grow. I always try to ensure as many players as possible emerge from every corner. Now that we’ve played the World Cup, it shows that with hard work, you can succeed from anywhere,” he added.
