SRH aim for the stars — Eshan Malinga, eshan malinga named in IPL 2026 squad
Sunrisers Hyderabad have named eshan malinga in their IPL 2026 squad as the franchise prepares to chase a second title, with Pat Cummins confirmed as captain and Ishan Kishan appointed as his replacement until Cummins joins the team. The full squad and support staff list also names Muttiah Muralitharan as Spin/Strategy Coach and Hariesh Jaikumar as Assistant Batting Coach. The announcement arrives with early fixtures set for March 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and April 2 at Eden Gardens, both listed at 7: 30 pm ET.
Squad and staff highlights
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s roster combines established internationals and fresh talent. Pat Cummins is the captain, with Ishan Kishan covering leadership duties until Cummins links up with the team. The support setup features Hariesh Jaikumar as Assistant Batting Coach and Muttiah Muralitharan as Spin/Strategy Coach. Overseas signings include Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards; the squad list also includes Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat and Eshan Malinga among others.
Eshan Malinga among new and returning faces
Eshan Malinga appears in the full squad list alongside both seasoned campaigners and ten fresh faces drafted into the setup. The auction produced two overseas signings bought at noted bids: Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards. Shivam Mavi was the most expensive of the new domestic additions at a bid of ₹75 lakh, while several others were acquired at ₹30 lakh each. The blend of experience and youth positions the side to deepen bench resources across batting and spin.
Pressing questions: bowling, captaincy and early fixtures
SRH carry clear areas demanding attention. The team recorded a second-worst PowerPlay economy rate of 10. 29 and combined to take 20 wickets in that phase, while the spin department returned 15 wickets at an average of 47. 33. With Pat Cummins not expected to play the initial matches as he joins late, Ishan Kishan will captain early games and handle top-order responsibilities. Competition for playing slots is likely: Brydon Carse and eshan malinga could be competing for a place in the XI, and the squad lists left-arm wrist spinners Krains Fuletra and Shivang Kumar as reinforcements to shore up the spin attack.
Early fixtures set immediate markers: March 28 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — 7: 30 pm ET; April 2 — Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata — 7: 30 pm ET. These matches will test the revamped batting unit and the bolstered spin group under Muralitharan’s strategy brief.
What’s next
Attention now turns to Cummins’ arrival, match-day selections for the opening fixtures and how quickly interim captain Ishan Kishan settles into the role. Fitness updates for Cummins and the balance between seamers and the newly added wrist spinners will shape SRH’s early tournament XI. Expect scrutiny on the PowerPlay numbers and on-field execution in the opening rounds, where eshan malinga’s role in the pace-spin mix could become decisive.
