The 19th season of the Indian Premier League, i.e., Indian Premier League, is set to begin on March 28. The first match of the tournament will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
After a brilliant performance in the T20 World Cup, Ishan Kishan could be handed the captaincy of Hyderabad in the initial matches. In fact, Pat Cummins’ availability to join the team is not yet clear, due to which the team management is considering an alternative captain.
According to reports, in Cummins’ absence, the team is discussing giving leadership to Ishan Kishan. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma is likely to be made the vice-captain. Cummins was recently out of the T20 World Cup due to an injury.
As for Kishan, he has shown excellent form since his return to international cricket. Batting from opening to number 3, he has scored runs aggressively. His role in IPL 2026 is also considered important, especially because the team already has explosive openers like Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru might also face a setback before the season starts. An Australian journalist has informed via social media that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are currently undergoing rehabilitation processes.
For this reason, it is being speculated that both players will not be available for the initial matches of the Indian Premier League 2026. Particularly, Hazlewood’s absence could prove to be a significant loss for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The concern for Royal Challengers Bengaluru is not limited to just one player; it could also impact the team combination. Josh Hazlewood is one of the team’s key fast bowlers, and his role in powerplay and death overs is crucial. If he remains unavailable for the initial matches, the team might have to alter its bowling attack.
On the other hand, the uncertainty surrounding Pat Cummins’ fitness could affect not only his team but also the initial matches of the entire tournament. The experience and performance of both players are very significant for their respective teams.
Now, all eyes are on when these players will fully recover and return to the field, because in a major tournament like the Indian Premier League, every match plays a crucial role in determining a team’s position.
