IPL 2026: Abhishek Sharma likely to lead SRH in initial matches due to THIS reason
(Courtesy : IPL)
SRH will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28.
Sunrisers Hyderabad stumbled big time last season, as their star-studded batting lineup failed to come to the party. They went from the highs of 2024 to the lows of 2025. Now, in the upcoming IPL season, the Orange Army will hope to replicate their stellar performance from the 2024 edition.
Sunrisers will play the IPL 2026 season opener against the defending champions. Their ominous batting lineup will once again fuel expectations as fans eagerly hope for SRH to cross the 300-mark.
With Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma opening the lineup, the pair has quickly become the most feared opening combination. Ishan Kishan’s current form will further increase the opposition bowling attack’s concerns.
The addition of Liam Livingstone makes the batting lineup arguably the best in the competition. The English all-rounder will play alongside Henrich Klassen and Nitish Reddy.
It is SRH’s bowling though, which is their weaker suite. Apart from captain Pat Cummins, none of the other bowlers come across as reliable options. This will put the onus on the batters, to score big and bat oppositions out of the match.
Abhishek Sharma to lead SRH in initial matches
According to TOI, captain Pat Cummins will miss the first few matches of SRH in the upcoming season. Cummins’ last competitive match was the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide, which ended on December 21, 2025.
The Australian fast bowler has been out of action since then due to injury, which ruled him out of the remaining Ashes matches and the subsequent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Although there were reports that he was recovering, the status of his injury is currently unknown.
As a result, in his absence, left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma is likely to lead the 2016 winners. If Abhishek becomes the captain, this will be his first captaincy stint in the IPL.
Not only will SRH miss Cummins’ captaincy, but more importantly, his bowling. This weakens an already weak bowling attack, with potential replacements being Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga or Australia’s Jack Edwards.
When will SRH play their opening game of IPL 2026?
SRH will play their first game on March 28 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Who might lead SRH as captain in first few matches?
Abhishek Sharma is expected to lead SRH in initial matches.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.