Pat Cummins might not be available, expecting Ishan Kishan to lead SRH in IPL 2027: Aakash Chopra

Sunrisers Hyderabad faces a potential captaincy reshuffle for IPL 2027 if Australia's Pat Cummins cannot commit to the tournament. The Australian pace bowler's international schedule includes the Ashes and the upcoming ODI World Cup, both of which could create conflicts with the IPL window. The league is scheduled to commence immediately after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy concludes, leaving minimal rest time for international players between competitions.

Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has suggested that Ishan Kishan would be the natural choice to assume the captaincy role should Cummins remain unavailable. Kishan already possesses captaincy experience with the franchise, having led the side during the opening seven matches of IPL 2026 when Cummins delayed his arrival due to injury. His interim spell demonstrated his ability to manage the team effectively in the absence of the primary captain.

"I have a feeling that, given the kind of year it is, with Ashes and the World Cup, Pat Cummins might not be available. His availability could be an issue because the IPL is scheduled to take place right after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. So, there is a lot of cricket coming up, and Pat Cummins might not be available, and you might potentially have Ishan Kishan stepping in and doing the job as a full-time captain this time around," Chopra said on JioStar's show Game Plan.

Beyond captaincy considerations, SRH is reportedly exploring trades to strengthen its pace-bowling resources. The franchise has signed Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis as acquisitions through the trading window from the Chennai Super Kings. This move reflects concerns about the team's fast-bowling depth following inconsistent performances from Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel in the previous season.

SRH's pace-bowling reinforcement plans

Analyst Abhinav Mukund has endorsed SRH's approach to acquire Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis through trades. Mukund also raised concerns about the future of Travis Head at the franchise, suggesting that availability issues could prompt SRH to consider releasing the Australian batter. Additionally, Mukund questioned whether Harshal Patel, who carries a salary of Rs 8 crore, should remain in the squad given his underwhelming returns last season.

Gujarat Titans' retention strategy

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans face their own retention decisions ahead of IPL 2027. Chopra identified Shahrukh Khan as a likely release candidate for the Titans, noting that both Shahrukh and Rahul Tewatia command identical salaries of Rs 4 crore. The franchise may also explore trading one of their left-arm spinners, with Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar both potential candidates for departure.

Chopra also mentioned Ishant Sharma and Wiaan Mulder as other possible release options for Gujarat, while emphasizing the importance of retaining Tom Banton. The retention deadline will be a critical juncture for both franchises as they finalize their squads for the upcoming season.