Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have confirmed that Pat Cummins will continue as the captain of the team for the IPL 2026 season. The franchise made the announcement on its official X handle. This will be Cummins’ third straight year leading the Hyderabad side. SRH had appointed him as captain in 2024 after buying him for a huge ₹20.50 crore at the IPL auction. Before joining SRH, the Australian pacer had played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC).
SRH have kept almost their entire core group for the new season. The explosive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head has been retained. Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and a few more players will also continue. These players played a big role in SRH’s growth over the last few years.
SRH Show Full Trust in Cummins Ahead of New Season
However, SRH also made some bold decisions. They traded senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants. The team also released spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The changes show that SRH want a fresh balance in the squad.
SRH finished sixth last season. They won six matches and lost seven. They missed the playoffs by a narrow margin. With Cummins ready to lead again, the franchise hopes for a stronger and more consistent campaign in 2026.
Cummins Recovers from Injury but Remains Central in SRH Plans
Pat Cummins is currently recovering from a lumbar stress fracture. Because of this injury, he has been ruled out of the opening Ashes Test in Perth. In his absence, Steve Smith will lead Australia in the series opener against England on November 21.
The Australian team management expects Cummins to return in time for the second Test in Brisbane, starting December 4. His recovery is being closely monitored. Despite the injury setback, SRH have full trust in their captain. The team believes in his leadership, experience, and long-term value.
The franchise’s decision to continue with Pat Cummins shows strong faith in his ability to guide the team. SRH fans will now hope that their skipper returns fully fit and leads the side to a successful IPL 2026 season.
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