Star Indian top-order batter Abhishek Sharma is reportedly unhappy with Sunrisers Hyderabad and wants to part ways with the Hyderabad-based franchise.
The 26-year-old left-handed batter from Amritsar has been associated with SRH in the IPL since the 2019 season, but according to a Times of India report on Friday (October 2), he now wants to leave the Orange Army ahead of the 2027 edition of the Indian Premier League.
The 2016 IPL champions are understood to be keen on giving leadership responsibilities to Ishan Kishan, who had also led them in the first few matches of IPL 2026 due to Pat Cummins’ delayed arrival.
It has been reported that since Cummins is unlikely to feature in next year’s edition of the IPL due to a packed international calendar,
Kishan will lead the side and Abhishek is not happy with that and so he wants to explore new options as early as next season.
As per the available information, five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings have made informal contact with Abhishek and SRH, but nothing substantial has materialised so far.
“It’s not a secret anymore that Abhishek Sharma is unhappy at SRH since the captaincy went to Ishan Kishan. He has been with the franchise for a long time and clearly had captaincy ambitions. Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings were being explored as potential destinations, and we can’t rule out Delhi Capitals either, since his mentor Yuvraj Singh is part of the set-up now,” a source told TOI.
While SRH CEO K Shanmugam, when contacted by the publication about the news, denied the talks as “not true”, the source has stated that the batter is willing to leave the Hyderabad-based franchise and may even settle for a non-captaincy role for time being.
“There are not many captaincy opportunities right now. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are two options, but most other teams appear sorted. So even if SRH and Abhishek agree to part ways, the big question remains: where to? And how will SRH position itself even if they agree? A cash deal? Player trade? Lots of factors,” the source added.
Due to his exploits in the IPL, Abhishek will not be short of suitors if he leaves SRH and enters his name in the IPL 2027 auction pool.
The left-handed batter amassed a total of more than 550 runs for SRH in IPL 2026 and played a big role in helping them qualify for the playoffs.
