Sunrisers Hyderabad have confirmed Pat Cummins will continue as captain for a third consecutive season in IPL 2026. The franchise made the announcement on Monday through a post on their official X handle, featuring photos of the Australian fast bowler without extensive details.

Leadership Continuity

The 31-year-old Cummins took over SRH’s captaincy in 2024 after being acquired for a staggering Rs 20.50 crore at the auction—one of the highest bids in IPL history. His appointment came on the back of Australia’s dominant international run, including victories in the World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup.

Despite SRH’s underwhelming IPL 2025 campaign—finishing sixth with six wins, seven losses, and one no-result—the franchise has shown full faith in Cummins’ leadership by reaffirming his central role in their long-term plans.

Recent Injury Setback

Cummins is currently recovering from a back injury that has ruled him out of the first Ashes Test in Perth starting November 21. However, he’s expected to be fit for the second Test in Brisbane beginning December 4. In his absence, Steven Smith will lead Australia in the series opener against England.

Despite this temporary setback, SRH’s announcement demonstrates their unwavering confidence in his ability to lead them in IPL 2026.

IPL Track Record

Cummins made an impressive debut as SRH captain in IPL 2024, guiding the team to the final where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. That run to the title match vindicated SRH’s massive investment in the Australian star.

However, IPL 2025 proved disappointing as SRH failed to qualify for the playoffs, accumulating just 13 points from 14 matches. The team struggled for consistency despite boasting explosive talents like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

Squad Overhaul

As they announced Cummins’ captaincy, SRH also revealed significant squad changes. The franchise retained the core that powered their resurgence, including the explosive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, along with Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ishan Kishan.

In major moves, SRH traded veteran pacer Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants while releasing star spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar. These decisions appear aimed at recalibrating the bowling attack around Cummins’ expertise and strengthening squad balance ahead of the December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi.

Retained Players

SRH’s full retention list includes: Pat Cummins ©, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, and Zeeshan Ansari.

With Rs 25.50 crore remaining in their purse and 10 slots left (including two overseas), SRH have flexibility to target quality players at the auction.

Previous IPL Stints

Before joining SRH, Cummins represented Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in the IPL. His experience with multiple franchises gives him perspective on building successful teams in the tournament.

Road Ahead

As SRH prepare for IPL 2026, Cummins faces the challenge of bouncing back from last season’s disappointment. The franchise’s faith in his leadership, combined with strategic squad changes, suggests they believe he can restore them to championship contention.

Head coach Daniel Vettori expressed satisfaction with retaining enough budget to target quality players at the auction, aiming to strengthen the squad with talent that may not have fit elsewhere.