Sunrisers Hyderabad has officially declared Pat Cummins as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2026 season, marking his third consecutive tenure at the helm. The confirmation came on Monday through a social media update from the franchise. This move underscores SRH’s continued faith in the Australian star, even as he recuperates from a back injury that has sidelined him from the opening Ashes Test. He is slated to return for the second Test in December. Cummins, who joined SRH in 2024 for a record-breaking bid of ₹20.50 crore, has been a transformative figure for the team. His leadership was crucial following Australia’s significant international triumphs. The franchise is maintaining its formidable opening pair, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who provided explosive starts throughout IPL 2024, culminating in a runner-up finish. To strengthen the squad after a disappointing sixth-place finish in IPL 2025, SRH has made strategic player adjustments, trading pacer Mohammed Shami and releasing spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar. These changes are likely aimed at optimizing the bowling attack and enhancing overall team balance under Cummins’ captaincy.
