India, March 22 -- There is still no clarity over the availability of Pat Cummins. Earlier reports suggested the Australian could miss the first few weeks of IPL 2026 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, leaving the franchise in need of a temporary skipper to lead them through the opening phase. And when they looked within the dressing room, Ishan Kishan emerged as a clear option.

Fresh off a remarkable campaign in India's victorious 2026 T20 World Cup run, Ishan also enjoyed success as a captain, leading an unfancied Jharkhand side to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in December, a run that revived his chances of returning to the Indian team after nearly two years. But for SRH, it was not just results, but his leadership principles that stood out...