IPL 2026: Pat Cummins to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad for third consecutive year
The 31-year-old all-rounder became SRH captain in 2024 after the franchise bought him for ₹20.50 crore at the IPL auction, one of the highest bids in league history.
Australia’s Pat Cummins will continue as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for a third straight IPL season. The franchise confirmed the decision on Monday through a post on its official X handle. Although there was no formal statement, the message was clear that SRH will continue under Cummins’ leadership for the 2026 season.
Cummins is currently recovering from a back injury and will miss the first Ashes Test in Perth. However, he is expected to be fit for the second Test in Brisbane starting on December 4. In his absence, Steven Smith will captain Australia in the series opener against England on November 21. Despite this injury setback, SRH have shown full trust in Cummins and their long-term plans remain unchanged.
The 31-year-old all-rounder became SRH captain in 2024 after the franchise bought him for ₹20.50 crore at the IPL auction, one of the highest bids in league history. His appointment came after Australia’s strong performances in international cricket, including wins in the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Before joining Sunrisers Hyderabad, Cummins played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.
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SRH Squad Update for IPL 2026
As Sunrisers Hyderabad announced their squad for IPL 2026, the team kept the core players who helped them improve in recent seasons. Along with Pat Cummins, the strong opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head remains key to the team. Their aggressive starts played a big role in SRH’s comeback, including a strong IPL 2024 season where the team finished as runners-up.
The franchise also made some big changes. SRH traded experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants and released spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar. These decisions seem focused on reshaping the bowling attack around Cummins and improving team balance after a poor IPL 2025 season. Last year, SRH finished sixth with six wins, seven losses, and one no-result, and failed to reach the playoffs.
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