Pat Cummins to Lead SRH for a Third Straight IPL Season: Australia’s Pat Cummins will continue as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the third year in a row.
The franchise confirmed the news on Monday with a post on its official X handle. Even though the announcement only showed photos of Pat Cummins and didn’t include a formal statement, the message was clear: SRH is sticking with their Australian fast-bowling star as they head into the 2026 season.
Pat Cummins is recovering from injury but is expected back soon
Cummins is currently on the road to recovery after a back injury and has already been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth. He is expected to return in time for the second Test in Brisbane starting December 4. While he sits out the opening match, Steven Smith will take charge of the Australian team against England beginning November 21.
SRH’s Continued Trust in Their Captain
Even with this short-term setback, Sunrisers Hyderabad have shown full confidence in Cummins by reaffirming his role in their long-term plans. The 31-year-old stepped into the SRH captaincy in 2024 after the team acquired him for a massive ₹20.50 crore at the auction, one of the biggest bids in IPL history at the time.
His arrival came on the heels of Australia’s impressive run in world cricket, including wins in the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Before joining Hyderabad, Cummins had stints with Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.
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Core Squad Maintained for IPL 2026
As SRH revealed their squad for the 2026 season, they chose to keep the central group that fueled their turnaround in recent years. Along with Cummins, the dynamic opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head continues to be vital to the team’s plans. Their fiery starts played a major role in SRH’s resurgence, especially in IPL 2024 when the team finished as runners-up.
Major Changes in the Bowling Department
The biggest shake-up came in the bowling unit. The team traded senior pacer Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants and released spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar. These decisions seem aimed at reshaping the attack around Cummins’ leadership and improving overall balance after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign. SRH missed out on the playoffs last season, ending sixth with six wins, seven losses, and one no-result from 14 matches.
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