Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has questioned the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) over not handing the captaincy to Abhishek Sharma after regular skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out of the initial stages of IPL 2026.

SRH have named Ishan Kishan to lead the side in Cummins’ absence. Abhishek is the vice-captain. However, Yuvraj said he was disappointed with the decision and recalled how he was snubbed for India captaincy and the reins were handed over to MS Dhoni way back in 2007.

What Yuvraj said

“I was a bit disappointed. I also love Ishan Kishan. I have seen his growth in Indian cricket, his comeback as well,” Yuvraj said on Sports Thank you.

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He added, “Abhishek Sharma has been playing for the SRH for the last seven years and has been performing well for them. He has given his heart and soul to the franchise. He is also captaining at the state level (Punjab), but he still didn’t get the captaincy of SRH.”

Looking back at his playing days with the Indian cricket team, Yuvraj said Dhoni was made the captain from nowhere when there were seniors, including Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, and himself.

“For example, when I was in the Indian team, Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) was senior, (Virender) Sehwag was senior, then I was somewhere, I was the vice-captain. This is about 2007. But out of nowhere, MS Dhoni comes and becomes captain, whatever the reasons were. When MS Dhoni was made captain, it was like someone destined to captain and do great things for India. That’s going to happen. But I’m just saying from a player’s perspective, it’s disappointing when someone has done so much for you in so many years,” Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj speaks to Abhishek

Yuvraj, who has been mentoring Abhishek, said that he had spoken to the young left-handed opening batter.

“I mean, tomorrow if Hyderabad wins, which I don’t think will happen, I think their bowling is very weak, very weak. I don’t think so. So tomorrow my words may also turn out wrong, and I’m okay to take that criticism. But my point is that you have to, you know, give the captaincy, then only a player learns.

“I think IPL is a great stage to learn. I think communication is important, but I feel that whoever took the decision, on what basis, I don’t know. I’m just saying if this happened to me, which has happened to me, then I have to be very clear: listen, this happened, I felt disappointed. And I also spoke to Abhishek: ‘Now we are going to put this disappointment aside. I am going to support my captain and try to do even better because something has hurt me. Now I will push harder and do better,’ that should be your motivation,” he added.