NEW DELHI: Team India’s left-handed batter Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming IPL 2026 season, as there is yet no clarity on when Pat Cummins will link up with the squad.
TimesofIndia.com reliably understands that the SRH management has had a discussion in this regard, and Kishan has been identified as the most suitable candidate to have the armband in the Australian fast bowler’s absence. Abhishek Sharma will be Ishan’s deputy in this season.
Ishan’s stocks are on a bull run at the moment. The 27-year-old has had a brilliant T20 World Cup campaign, where he became the toast of the nation for his performances, initially as a top-order batter and then at No.
3 when Sanju Samson returned to the Playing XI.
Ishan Kishan’s performance in last IPL
Kishan has established himself as one of the most explosive wicketkeeper-batters in the IPL.
Across 119 matches in the tournament, playing for three franchises including Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has scored 2,998 runs from 112 innings at an average of 29.10 and a strike rate of 137.64.
His tally includes one century, 17 half-centuries, 288 fours and 134 sixes, underlining his aggressive batting style.
Behind the stumps, Kishan has also contributed with 59 catches and five stumpings.
In the 2025 season, his first after being picked for Rs 11.25 crore in the auction, he scored 354 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 152.58, including a century and a fifty.
Kishan’s heroics in T20 World Cup 2026
Kishan played a key role for the India national cricket team during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, finishing as India’s second-highest run-scorer with 317 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate above 193.
His campaign included three half-centuries, including one in the final, helping India clinch the title.
Speaking after the victory, he 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.”
He added, “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.”
On his future goals, Kishan said, “Nothing much, just keep scoring runs, keep playing, and keep winning.”
