Ishan Kishan Could Lead SRH in IPL 2027 if Pat Cummins is Unavailable, Says Aakash Chopra

New Delhi, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns about Pat Cummins‘ availability for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the upcoming IPL 2027 season. He proposed that Ishan Kishan could step in as the full-time captain for the franchise. This discussion comes as teams assess their rosters before the retention deadline, weighing player releases and trades.

With the retention window closing, SRH and other franchises are evaluating their squads. The availability of foreign players and addressing team weaknesses will heavily influence their decisions. Chopra noted that given Australia’s packed international schedule, SRH might need to prepare for the next season without Cummins. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans are exploring options to bolster their batting lineup.

While discussing the likelihood of Cummins playing in the next IPL season, Chopra referred to the busy cricket calendar, which includes major tournaments like the Ashes and the World Cup. He mentioned in an interview with ‘GeoStar,’ “Considering tournaments like the Ashes and the World Cup, Pat Cummins might not be available. His unavailability could become a problem, especially since the IPL is set to take place right after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With so much cricket ahead, it’s possible that Cummins might not be available. In that case, Ishan Kishan could take on the role of full-time captain this time.”

If Cummins is unavailable, SRH may consider a leadership change, with Kishan, who has previously captained in Cummins’ absence, potentially leading the team throughout the season.

Chopra also discussed how the Gujarat Titans could make space in their squad and utilize the trade market to address their middle-order needs. He highlighted that they have several left-arm spinners, which could be leveraged for negotiations with other franchises.

He emphasized the need for a more robust and stable batting order. “Shahrukh is valued at 4 crores, and so is Tevatia. One of them might be released, perhaps Shahrukh. This would save you 4 crores. Interestingly, if he enters the trade market, players like Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar could attract interest from teams looking for quality Indian left-arm spinners, as neither is currently playing for their existing teams. You could trade one of them to acquire another player,” he explained.

Chopra added, “Additionally, they genuinely need a lower-middle-order or middle-order batsman. This is a concern for them. They could release one of their fast bowlers, as they have an abundance of such players. They might consider releasing Esterhuizen because they need Tom Banton. Among fast bowlers, they could also let go of Ishant Sharma, as he hasn’t been in the playing eleven. He barely played last season, although he did participate in a few matches in 2025.”