Ishan Kishan set to apply SMAT-winning strategy at SRH
Published - 22 Mar 2026, 12:33 PM | Updated - 22 Mar 2026, 12:36 PM
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Ishan Kishan is set to lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as their regular captain Pat Cummins will miss the initial few matches of the Indian Super League 2026 (IPL 2026). During the absence of Cummins, Kishan will be the stopgap leader of the team.
The Jharkhand-born had to walk a long way before claiming the recent achievements. SRH’s decision to appoint Ishan Kishan as the temporary captain is only the tip of a massive iceberg in the ocean.
The people who witnessed the keeper-batter closely can only depict how much he had to toil before making a stunning comeback first in the domestic cricket, and then for Team India in the T20Is.
The assistant coach of the Jharkhand Cricket Team explained the 'captain', Ishan Kishan.
Sunny Gupta, assistant coach of the Jharkhand Cricket Team, is one of the few how styed close during Ishan Kishan’s days with the state team.
Gupta described how the charismatic cricketer transformed the team as the leader. Under the leadership of Kishan, Jharkhand will participate in its maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the 2025-26 season.
According to an Indian Express article, Gupta recalled how the top-order batter transformed the team’s mentality. As the captain of the side, he made the players believe that they were there in the tournament only to win the trophy.
As the first step, he issued some rules in the dressing room. He aimed to create a positive environment in the dressing room, so that each and every one could be motivated under any circumstances. Even if a player had a bad day on the ground, Kishan did not allow the player to sit head down.
“One thing Ishan was clear about was that the dressing room needs to be a happy place irrespective of win and loss,” the assistant coach of the Jharkhand Cricket Team said.
Ishan imposed another rule to maintain fine-tuning, even in less important matches. According to media reports, Jharkhand cricket team players were liable to pay a thousand-rupee fee if they walked in late to catch the team bus.
He is different when it comes to planning: Gupta.
Many videos were surfacing on social media platforms to give a hint about the cricketer’s character. From the videos, one can assume that the keeper batter who has won the T20 World Cup 2026 only a few days ago with the Indian cricket team is a fun-loving personality.
But the reality might be different. The coach informed that in the dressing room, and on the ground, Ishan Kishan is a whole different gravy.
“People perceive him as a laughing boy, but he is different when it comes to planning. He will sit studying opponents — mapping each player, watching endless video — before concluding his meeting. Sometimes two hours before he’s done,” Gupta informed.
Ishan is not the kind who believes only in talking- Virat Singh
Virat Singh, Ishan’s Jharkhand teammate, stated that their skipper only believes in the results, and he will be in the frontline if the team needs to score runs at a quick pace.
“He is not the kind who believes only in talking. If the team has decided to score quickly, he will be the first one to raise his hand. From that day, every time I went out to bat, he was standing behind me to see me and to guide me. So he wins that trust,” he further added.
Read More: Ishan Kishan loses cool at Zeeshan Ansari during SRH Intra-Squad Game
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