Pat Cummins, the Australian fast bowler and captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), will miss the first few matches of IPL 2026 due to a back injury. This injury was sustained prior to the 2025-26 Ashes series, where Cummins participated in only one match before withdrawing from the remaining games.

In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the stand-in captain for SRH, with Abhishek Sharma taking on the role of vice-captain. This decision was confirmed by SRH, which stated, “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.”

Cummins’ injury has also led to his absence from the 2026 T20 World Cup, further impacting his participation in key matches. During the T20 World Cup, Ishan Kishan emerged as a standout player, scoring 317 runs and becoming India’s second-highest run-scorer.

Kishan’s performance has been noteworthy, as he also finished as the top scorer in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 517 runs. His impressive form continued into the IPL 2025 season, where he scored 354 runs from 13 innings at an average of 35.40.

SRH secured Ishan Kishan for Rs 14.5 crore ahead of IPL 2025, and he made an immediate impact with a remarkable 45-ball century against the Rajasthan Royals on his debut.

The SRH squad for IPL 2026 includes both Pat Cummins and Ishan Kishan among other players, but the team will need to adapt to Cummins’ absence in the early matches.

As the season approaches, observers are keen to see how Kishan will lead the team in Cummins’ absence and whether he can replicate his previous successes on the field.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline for Cummins’ recovery, but his return will be eagerly anticipated by fans and teammates alike.