Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ipl 2026 The campaign has suffered an initial setback with Captain pat cummins He is set to be ruled out of the initial stages of the tournament due to injury.
How many matches will SRH captain Pat Cummins miss in IPL 2026?
Although the franchise has not officially confirmed the exact number of games, reports suggest that the Australian fast bowler is likely to sit out the first three matches as he recovers from a back problem.
For SRHThis is a significant blow. Cummins has been a central figure in the team’s plans – not just as a strike bowler, but also as a leader. His absence in the opening matches means the team will have to make quick changes in terms of both bowling strategy and on-field leadership.
Cummins has not participated in competitive cricket since December 2025 and his recovery process is still ongoing. Although Cricket Australia has given him approval to participate in the IPL, he is not ready for the match yet. He is expected to join the SRH squad on March 23, where he will continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of the franchise’s medical team.
As things stand, Cummins is likely to miss three key matches:
- The season begins on March 28 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru
- Match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on 2 April
- Home match against Lucknow Super Giants in Hyderabad on 5th April
These are crucial opening matches that often set the tone for the remainder of the campaign, making their absence all the more glaring.
Also read: Big blow to RCB- How many matches will Josh Hazlewood miss in IPL 2026?
Ishan Kishan to reshuffle SRH’s leadership group
With Cummins unavailable, the Kavya Mayan-owned franchise wasted no time in restructuring their leadership setup. In a bold move, the franchise has handed over the captaincy to Ishan Kishan for the initial phase of the tournament, his first stint as an IPL captain.
Kishan’s appointment reflects the team’s confidence in his leadership abilities. He recently led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and was also the tournament’s top run-scorer, displaying both form and composure under pressure.
Supporting him as vice-captain is Abhishek Sharma, one of the most exciting T20 talents in the game currently. Ranked as the world No. 1 T20I batsman, Abhishek has been in exceptional form and brings energy and aggression to the leadership group. Both Kishan and Abhishek were also key members of India’s recent T20 World Cup-winning team, adding further credibility to their roles.
The franchise confirmed the decision in a statement: “Pat Cummins will miss some matches while recovering from injury. Ishan Kishan will be the captain and Abhishek Sharma will be the vice-captain until his recovery.”
From a tactical perspective, SRH will now have to rework their bowling plans in the absence of Cummins. His ability to create breakthroughs with the new ball and control the game in pressure situations is difficult to replace. The team will likely rely more on its existing pace options and all-rounders to fill that gap.
Sunrisers and owner Kavya Maran will be focused on remaining competitive until their captain returns fully fit. If they can successfully overcome these early hurdles, the return of Cummins later in the season could provide a big boost.
Also read: IPL – Complete List of All SRH Captains Till Date ft Ishan Kishan
