Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has made the right appointment decision. Ishan Kishan as captain for its opening matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. He said that Ishaan is now getting the fruits of his hard work.
Regular captain Pat Cummins will miss the first few matches of IPL 2026 as he is recovering from a back injury. In his absence, SRH have named Ishan Kishan as captain, with Abhishek Sharma serving as his deputy.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “Ishan Kishan has now been made the captain, and isn't that a beautiful story? A guy who was just putting his head down and working hard, who was just doing his job, would play for Jharkhand, score runs, make his team win and from there he became a part of the Indian team. Then the Indian team had some form issues, things changed and he came into the XI.”
He said, “He scored runs, but then he was asked to hand over the gloves and his number, but he scored runs there too and now he is the captain of a very big franchise. In my opinion, they have done the right thing because they have gone for a player with a proven track record.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator admitted that SRH's decision to appoint Ishan as captain reflects the long-term vision of the franchise. He said that Abhishek could also have been a strong contender for the role, but reiterated that SRH have made the right decision by keeping Ishan at the top.
Chopra said, “I also think it is not only about the present, but it is also a mirror of the future. You are showing what you want to do in the future, as a franchise, what direction you want to go. Pat Cummins has done very well. So I am not taking anything away, but ultimately, you want an Indian captain.”
He said, “When the captain is Indian, you can manage things your way, and so, Ishan Kishan. He has a proven track record, pedigree and more experience. Abhishek Sharma has been made the vice-captain, and that might be a tough question, because Abhishek Sharma is also a superstar in his own right, and could he have been made the captain. I think he has done the right thing.”
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