Former India batter Sanjay Bangar has praised Ishan Kishan’s captaincy at Sunrisers Hyderabad, highlighting his tactical discipline and composure during key phases of play in IPL 2026. Bangar believes Kishan should keep leading the franchise even after Pat Cummins returns, pointing to how the young skipper manages bowling changes and game tempo when overseas captaincy duties are on hold.
Key takeaways
- Sanjay Bangar said Ishan Kishan’s captaincy stands out due to his tactical use of bowlers and calm decision-making.
- Pat Cummins has been working through a lumbar stress issue and is aiming to return after confirmation that the injury has healed.
- Cummins is targeting April 25 as his comeback date, with SRH scheduled to play Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
- In Cummins’ absence, Kishan has been leading SRH in IPL 2026.
- Bangar argued that continuity in leadership could benefit SRH, even once Cummins is fully fit.
Cummins’ injury update and the April 25 return plan
Cummins travelled back to Australia earlier in the month for follow-up assessments on a lumbar stress injury that has restricted his IPL appearances since July of the previous year. Scans carried out in Sydney have reportedly confirmed that the problem has healed, giving the Australian all-rounder a clear pathway back to competitive cricket.
With his return in sight, Cummins indicated through social media that he is expected to fly back to India soon to rejoin the squad. He is now looking at April 25 for his comeback, when Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to take on Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
Bangar backs Kishan’s captaincy continuity
While Cummins has been away, Ishan Kishan has captained SRH in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. Bangar commended Kishan’s ability to think clearly under pressure and maintain control of match situations without showing signs of hurry. He also underlined the young captain’s awareness of match-ups, particularly in how he deploys bowlers based on the batters they face.
Speaking on Star Sports, Bangar said Kishan is tactically strong in the way he uses his bowling resources, noting that the skipper understands which bowlers to turn to against specific batters. Bangar added that Kishan has displayed maturity in regulating the rhythm of games rather than letting the contest drift out of control.
Importantly, Bangar pushed for Kishan to continue in the role even after Cummins becomes available again. He pointed to Kishan’s effectiveness in utilising spinners in SRH’s match against DC, and suggested that keeping an Indian captain can bring steadiness across the remainder of the season. Bangar also reasoned that Cummins’ fitness can’t be guaranteed for the full stretch of IPL 2026, given the niggles he has been dealing with, and said handing Kishan the continuing leadership duties would provide continuity for the group.
SRH’s 47-run win over DC: Sharma’s 135* leads the way
SRH delivered a commanding performance in their IPL meeting against Delhi Capitals at Hyderabad, defeating DC by 47 runs. Chasing a target after being put in to bat, SRH posted 242/2, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s sensational unbeaten knock of 135 off 68 balls. Sharma struck 10 sixes during his innings, setting the foundation for a huge total.
He received sharp support from Heinrich Klaasen, who made a quick 37 off 13 balls to keep the scoring rate climbing. Together, their partnership helped SRH build a dominant platform before the innings naturally slowed at the end due to limited time remaining.
Delhi’s chase began with early resistance, led by Nitish Rana’s 57 and KL Rahul’s 37. However, wickets continued to fall at crucial moments, and DC’s momentum was broken despite a promising start.
The decisive phase arrived through a double blow from Eshan Malinga, who finished with figures of 4/32. Harsh Dubey then added further breakthroughs late on to ensure Delhi were eventually bowled out, unable to reach SRH’s total. Throughout the innings, SRH’s bowling unit maintained control, sealing the victory as DC fell short.
