IPL 2026: ‘They have done absolutely the right thing’ – Aakash Chopra backs Ishan Kishan’s appointment as Sunrisers Hyderabad captain

Aakash Chopra (Photo source: X)

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has opined that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made the right decision in appointing Ishan Kishan as captain for their initial matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. He added that Ishan is now reaping the rewards of his hard work.

Regular skipper Pat Cummins will miss the first few games of IPL 2026 as he continues to recover from a back injury. In his absence, SRH have named Ishan Kishan as captain, with Abhishek Sharma serving as his deputy.

“Ishan Kishan has been made the captain now, and isn’t this a beautiful story? A guy who was just working hard by keeping his head down, who was only doing his job, that he would play for Jharkhand, score runs, make his team win, and from there, he became a part of the Indian team. Then there were some form issues in the Indian team, things changed, and he came into the XI,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“He scored runs, but then he was asked to give the gloves and his number, but he scored runs there as well, and now he is the captain of a very big franchise. In my opinion, they have done absolutely the right thing because they have gone towards a player with a proven track record,” he added.

The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that SRH’s decision to appoint Ishan as captain reflects the franchise’s long-term vision. He noted that Abhishek could also have been a strong contender for the role, but reiterated that SRH have made the right call with Ishan at the helm.

“I also feel it’s not only about the present, but it’s also a mirror to the future. You are showing what you want to do in the future, as a franchise, in which direction you want to go. Pat Cummins has done very well. So I am not taking anything away, but eventually, you want an Indian captain,” said Chopra.

“When the captain is Indian, you can manage things your own way, and therefore, Ishan Kishan. He has a proven track record, pedigree, and more experience. Abhishek Sharma has been made the vice-captain, and this might have been a difficult question, as Abhishek Sharma is also a superstar in his own right, and whether he could have been made the captain. I think they have done the right thing,” he added.

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