Sunrisers Hyderabad’s choice to appoint Ishan Kishan as the interim captain, filling in for Pat Cummins and bypassing Abhishek Sharma, has stirred criticism from former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj expressed his disappointment during a podcast on Sports Tak, praising Kishan’s growth in Indian cricket but questioning the decision.
Ahead of the new Indian Premier League season, SRH officially named Kishan as the stand-in skipper due to Cummins’ absence because of a lumbar stress injury. Kishan’s recent achievements in domestic cricket with Jharkhand, leading them to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory and contributing to India’s T20 success, likely influenced the decision.
Yuvraj highlighted the potential impact on Abhishek, a long-standing member of the franchise, emphasizing how such choices can affect a player’s mindset and loyalty within the team. Drawing parallels, he discussed how such snubs can motivate players to perform better, citing his own experience when MS Dhoni was made captain over senior players.
Despite the controversy, Abhishek will support Kishan as the vice-captain until Cummins’ return, as SRH aims to secure their first title since 2016. Yuvraj encouraged Abhishek to channel any disappointment into motivation for improved performance, stressing the importance of supporting the team despite personal setbacks.