On March 18, just ten days before the IPL 2026 season kicks off, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) announced that their star player, Pat Cummins, will not be participating in the initial matches. His return date is still uncertain, as Cummins mentioned that it all depends on how his back heals during rehabilitation.
With this news, SRH has decided to appoint Ishan Kishan as their captain and Abhishek Sharma as vice-captain. This decision is quite interesting since Kishan has only played one season with the team, getting the nod over more experienced players like Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Kishan’s rise is notable. After losing his place in the Indian team in 2022 and his BCCI contract in 2023, he managed to make a strong comeback—an achievement not many can claim.
The bigger question now is how SRH will handle Cummins’ absence, especially considering his significant role as both a bowler and leader on the field.
### Cummins’ Influence on SRH
Pat Cummins had an immediate positive effect when he joined SRH for Rs 20.50 crore, helping the team improve from their previous poor seasons. His dynamic style of play raised the batting standards, making high scores like 250 seem attainable. Under his captaincy, SRH even made it to the IPL final for the first time in six years.
### Struggles in IPL 2025
However, the 2025 season didn’t go as planned. On more balanced pitches, SRH’s aggressive batting struggled, leading to losses in six out of their first eight matches. Despite sticking to their game plan, SRH finally managed to show some flexibility in the latter part of the season, winning three consecutive games before a match against the Delhi Capitals was rained out.
### Cummins as a Bowler
As a bowler, Cummins had a decent season, taking 16 wickets in 14 matches with an economy rate of 9. His performance in the middle overs was particularly impressive, as he conceded just 7.6 runs per over during that phase, helping SRH maintain control after the powerplay. He ended up being the team’s top wicket-taker, although his numbers could have been even better with more team support.
### Tactical Decisions
Though he had a strong season on a personal level, Cummins did make some strategic errors. For instance, he put Abhishek Sharma against Nicholas Pooran, a top spin-hitter, which led to a rapid defeat against Lucknow Super Giants, where they chased down 191 runs in just 16 overs. Additionally, relying on a half-fit Mohammed Shami for nine matches limited the team’s effectiveness, as Shami managed only six wickets with an economy of 11.
### Moving Forward Without Cummins
With his mixed season performance now in focus, SRH faces a significant challenge without Cummins. They will need to find a lead bowler to step up, with Eshan Malinga and Brydon Carse as potential candidates.
For Kishan, this is a significant test of his leadership abilities. He successfully led Jharkhand to a title win in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but leading in the IPL brings a different set of challenges.
Fans are hoping for a speedy recovery for Cummins, as his long absence could jeopardize SRH’s season, potentially leading to another disappointing year.
