Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar backed SRH stand-in captain Ishan Kishan and said, "I believe that even if Pat Cummins comes back...Ishan should continue...captaining SRH." He praised Kishan’s tactical use of spinners in the match against DC and added that having an Indian captain brings consistency. A lower-back stress reaction has delayed Cummins’ start to the IPL 2026 season.