Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)’s IPL 2026 campaign has taken an early hit, with captain Pat Cummins set to miss the initial phase of the tournament due to injury.

How many matches will SRH’s captain Pat Cummins miss in IPL 2026?

While the franchise has not officially confirmed the exact number of games, reports suggest that the Australian pace spearhead is likely to sit out the first three matches as he continues his recovery from a lingering back issue.

For SRH, this comes as a significant blow. Cummins has been a central figure in the team’s plans – not just as a strike bowler, but also as a leader. His absence in the opening games means the team will have to quickly adapt, both in terms of bowling strategy and on-field leadership.

Cummins hasn’t featured in competitive cricket since December 2025, and his recovery process is still ongoing. Although Cricket Australia has cleared him to participate in the IPL, he is not yet match-ready. He is expected to join the SRH squad on March 23, where he will continue rehabilitation under the supervision of the franchise’s medical team.

As things stand, Cummins is likely to miss three key fixtures:

• The season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28 in Bengaluru
• The away clash against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 2 at Eden Gardens
• The home game against Lucknow Super Giants on April 5 in Hyderabad

These are crucial early matches that often set the tone for the rest of the campaign, making his absence even more impactful.

Also READ: Big setback for RCB – How many matches will Josh Hazlewood miss in IPL 2026?

Ishan Kishan to lead as SRH reshuffle leadership group

With Cummins unavailable, the Kavya Mayan-owned franchise  wasted no time in restructuring their leadership setup. In a bold move, the franchise has handed the captaincy to Ishan Kishan for the opening phase of the tournament, marking his first stint as an IPL captain.

Kishan’s appointment reflects the team’s confidence in his leadership potential. He recently led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and was also the tournament’s top run-scorer, showcasing both form and composure under pressure.

Backing him as vice-captain is Abhishek Sharma, currently one of the most exciting T20 talents in the game. Ranked as the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, Abhishek has been in exceptional form and brings energy and aggression to the leadership group. Both Kishan and Abhishek were also key members of India’s recent T20 World Cup-winning squad, adding further credibility to their roles.

The franchise confirmed the decision in a statement: “Pat Cummins will miss a few games while recovering from injury. Until he recovers, Ishan Kishan will be the Captain and Abhishek Sharma will be the Vice-Captain.”

From a tactical perspective, SRH will now have to rework their bowling plans in Cummins’ absence. His ability to deliver breakthroughs with the new ball and control the game in pressure situations is hard to replace. The team will likely rely more on their existing pace options and all-rounders to fill that gap.

For the Sunrisers and owner Kavya Maran, the focus will be on staying competitive until their captain returns fully fit. If they can navigate these initial hurdles successfully, Cummins’ comeback later in the season could provide a major boost.

Also READ: IPL – Complete list of all SRH captains so far ft. Ishan Kishan

The escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran is no longer defined solely by advanced fighter jets or billion-dollar missile systems. Instead, a new class of cheap, expendable drones has moved to the centre of the battlefield, reshaping how modern wars are fought. From the skies over the Persian Gulf to earlier conflicts in Ukraine, these low-cost weapons are proving capable of striking critical infrastructure, overwhelming air defences and spreading disruption far beyond traditional front lines.At the heart of this shift is a striking technological contest: Iran’s widely deployed Shahed drones versus America’s newly introduced Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS). Both are relatively simple, one-way “kamikaze” drones designed to fly into targets and detonate on impact. Each costs roughly $20,000–$50,000, a fraction of the price of conventional missiles, yet their impact has been disproportionate.

Iran has launched waves of Shahed drones targeting airports, oil facilities and urban centres across the Gulf. In response, the United States has deployed LUCAS drones for the first time in combat during coordinated strikes on Iranian military assets. The message from Washington was clear: if cheap drones are redefining warfare, the US intends to compete on the same terms.The result is a fast-moving drone arms race where innovation, scale and cost matter as much as technological sophistication. The key question now is not just who has the better drone, but who can deploy them more effectively—and at scale.

Shahed: Iran’s ‘poor man’s cruise missile’

Iran’s Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones have become the backbone of its aerial strategy. Designed as loitering munitions, they fly towards pre-programmed coordinates before diving into targets with an explosive payload. With ranges stretching from hundreds to over 2,000 kilometres, they can strike deep into enemy territory.What makes the Shahed particularly effective is its cost and simplicity. Often described as a “poor man’s cruise missile”, it allows Iran to launch large swarms that can overwhelm even advanced air defence systems. In conflicts such as Ukraine, hundreds of these drones have been used in coordinated attacks, forcing defenders to expend far more expensive interceptor missiles.

Their limitations are clear: they are slow, noisy and carry relatively small warheads. Yet these weaknesses are offset by volume. A swarm of dozens—or even hundreds—can saturate radar systems and create chaos, as seen in recent strikes across Gulf cities, where air traffic was disrupted and key infrastructure damaged.Iran has also continuously adapted the design. Modifications include radar-reducing structures, improved navigation systems and different warhead configurations. The drones can be launched quickly from trucks or simple platforms, making them difficult to track and destroy before launch.Crucially, the Shahed is not just a military tool but a psychological one. The sight—and sound—of these drones buzzing overhead has become synonymous with disruption, fear and economic instability.

LUCAS: America’s answer to Shahed

In a notable reversal, the United States has adopted elements of Iran’s approach. The LUCAS drone, developed by a private American firm, was reverse-engineered from captured or studied Shahed designs. It represents a shift in US military thinking—from relying on expensive precision systems to embracing “affordable mass”.Like the Shahed, LUCAS is a one-way attack drone costing around $35,000. It can be launched from land or sea, including naval platforms, and is designed for rapid production. Its modular architecture allows it to perform multiple roles, from strike missions to reconnaissance and communications support.

The real advantage of LUCAS lies not in radically superior technology but in speed and adaptability. American engineers reportedly developed and fielded the system in under two years—an unusually fast timeline for the Pentagon. The drone can also integrate with modern satellite communication systems, potentially improving navigation and coordination.During recent operations, LUCAS drones were used alongside Tomahawk missiles and advanced fighter jets to target Iranian command centres and air defence systems. Their role was not to replace high-end weapons, but to complement them—overwhelming defences and creating openings for more precise strikes.This layered approach reflects a broader US strategy: combining large numbers of cheap drones with a smaller number of highly advanced systems.

Who has the edge?

The contest between LUCAS and Shahed is less about individual performance and more about strategy. Iran currently holds an advantage in scale and experience. It has spent years producing and deploying Shahed drones across multiple theatres, building stockpiles and refining swarm tactics.The United States, however, has strengths in technology integration, manufacturing capacity and global reach. Its ability to rapidly replicate and improve adversary designs—while combining them with advanced systems—gives it a potential long-term edge.Yet the broader lesson is that the nature of warfare itself is changing. Cheap drones are eroding the dominance of high-cost weapons, forcing militaries to rethink defence economics. Shooting down a $30,000 drone with a $200,000 missile is not sustainable.

Arjun Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant (Screen Grab)

Arjun Tendulkar is preparing for a new chapter in his IPL career after moving to Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2026 season. After playing just five matches across five seasons with Mumbai Indians, the left-arm pacer was traded to LSG for ₹30 lakh prior to the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi last December.In a video shared by LSG, where Pant and Arjun are seen talking, Pant struck up a conversation about Arjun’s batting approach. Curious about his preference for heavier bats, Pant asked, “Tera kitna hae bhai (What’s the weight of your bat)?”“1220,” Arjun replied. Pant followed up, “Bhaari se kya faida hae (What’s the advantage of using heavier bats)?”Arjun explained, “Touch karo ho jaata hae. Papa to 1310-1315 mein khelte the. 1200 se halka jaata nehi hoon main (Just a touch does it. My father used to play with bats weighing 1310-1315. I don’t go below 1200).”The reference, of course, was to his father, Sachin Tendulkar, who famously used heavier bats during his career.Pant was equally impressed by Arjun’s work ethic, especially after learning that he had trained with Yuvraj Singh immediately after his wedding. Arjun tied the knot with Saaniya Chandhok on March 5 in Mumbai but wasted no time getting back to cricket.“You were also practising with Yuvi paa… full-time? Shadi ke agle din hi? You are so enthu bhai,” Pant remarked in admiration.While images of those sessions did not surface publicly, it is understood that Yuvraj worked closely with Arjun on his batting. The interaction ended on a warm note, with Pant offering his support: “Agar kuch lage to batana… Always open for you.”Arjun’s IPL journey began in 2021 when he was picked by Mumbai Indians for ₹20 lakh, though he did not feature that season due to injury. He was bought again in 2022 for ₹30 lakh but remained on the sidelines. His debut finally came in 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium, where he played four matches and picked up three wickets. In 2024, he featured in just one game, coincidentally against LSG, but went wicketless.

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‘Fanaa’, starring Aamir Khan and Kajol, is set to complete 20 years this year. As the milestone approaches, director Kunal Kohli recently looked back at the film and reflected on why such stories are rarely attempted in today’s industry. But did you know, producer Aditya Chopra was not keen on casting Aamir for the film. Kohli expressed concern over the lack of risk-taking in modern filmmaking, calling the current scenario “sad.” He pointed out that projects like ‘Fanaa’ would be difficult to back today due to their unconventional storytelling. “It’s just sad heroes and producers are shying away from subjects that are bold and different. Because in Fanaa, the hero isn’t a hero, he’s a villain. It’s the love story of a terrorist. And there’s no salvation. He gets shot dead by the woman he loves and the woman who loves him,” he said.