IPL 2027: Aakash Chopra flags Pat Cummins availability doubt, tips Ishan Kishan as SRH captain
Synopsis
Aakash Chopra has flagged a captain-shaped hole at Sunrisers Hyderabad: with the Ashes, World Cup, and Border-Gavaskar Trophy all crowding the 2027 calendar, Pat Cummins may simply not be available for IPL — leaving Ishan Kishan as the likeliest full-time skipper. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans could unlock their squad puzzle by trading a left-arm spin surplus for the middle-order batter they badly need.
Key Takeaways
Aakash Chopra says Pat Cummins may miss IPL 2027 due to Australia's packed schedule, including the Ashes and the ICC World Cup.
Ishan Kishan is identified as the likeliest full-time captain for Sunrisers Hyderabad if Cummins is unavailable.
IPL 2027 is scheduled right after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy , compounding Cummins' availability concerns.
Gujarat Titans could release either Shahrukh Khan or Ravindra Tewatia (both at ₹4 crore ) to free up funds.
Sai Kishore or Manav Suthar could be offered in a trade to plug the Titans' middle-order gap.
Ishant Sharma and Esterhuizen are flagged as potential releases given limited game time and squad depth respectively.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised serious doubts about Pat Cummins' availability for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2027, suggesting that Ishan Kishan could be handed the captaincy on a full-time basis. Chopra also laid out a potential squad reshuffle roadmap for Gujarat Titans as the IPL retention deadline draws near.
Cummins Availability: The Ashes and World Cup Factor
Speaking on JioStar, Chopra pointed to Australia's congested international calendar — headlined by the Ashes and the ICC World Cup — as the key reason Cummins may not be in the reckoning for SRH next season. The IPL is scheduled to take place immediately after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, adding further strain to an already packed schedule.
'I have a feeling that, given the kind of year it is, with Ashes and the World Cup, Pat Cummins might not be available. His availability could be an issue because the IPL is scheduled to take place right after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. So, there is a lot of cricket coming up, and Pat Cummins might not be available, and you might potentially have Ishan Kishan stepping in and doing the job as a full-time captain this time around,' Chopra said.
Kishan has previously deputised for Cummins when the Australian was unavailable, and Chopra's reading suggests SRH's think-tank may need to plan for that scenario from the outset rather than treat it as contingency.
What a Leadership Change Means for SRH
A full-time captaincy shift would be a significant strategic call for the Hyderabad franchise. Cummins has been central not just as an overseas fast bowler but also as a tactical influence at the top. If he is unavailable for a substantial chunk of the tournament, SRH's overseas balance and bowling attack would require a rethink. Notably, this is not the first time an Australian skipper's IPL plans have been complicated by a World Cup cycle — a pattern franchises have navigated with varying degrees of success.
Gujarat Titans' Squad Puzzle: Spin Surplus and Middle-Order Gap
Turning to Gujarat Titans, Chopra identified a congestion in left-arm spin resources as both a problem and a trading opportunity. The franchise currently has Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar competing for a single spot, making one of them a potentially valuable trade asset for teams in need of a quality Indian left-arm spinner.
On the batting side, Chopra flagged the middle order as Gujarat's primary area of concern and suggested the franchise use player releases to generate the financial and roster room needed to fix it. 'Shahrukh is at four crores, and Tewatia is at four as well. So, one of the two can be released, maybe Shahrukh. So, you have Rs 4 crore freed up there,' Chopra noted.
Potential Releases: Esterhuizen, Ishant Sharma in the Frame
Chopra also flagged overseas all-rounder Esterhuizen as a potential release, arguing that Tom Banton is a more indispensable overseas pick for the Titans. Among the pacers, he singled out Ishant Sharma as someone the franchise could let go, citing limited game time — Ishant barely featured in IPL 2025 and played only a handful of matches the season prior.
'And among the pacers, they can probably release Ishant Sharma if they want to because they don't play him. Hardly any game last season. In 2025, he still played a few matches,' Chopra added.
What Happens Next
With the IPL 2027 retention deadline approaching, both SRH and Gujarat Titans face consequential decisions. For SRH, clarity on Cummins' international schedule will be decisive. For Gujarat Titans, the trade market could offer a path to solving their middle-order problem if they are willing to part with one of their spin assets. How both franchises navigate these calls will shape the composition of their squads well before the auction table is set.
Point of View
And franchises that build their entire identity around an overseas captain without a credible succession plan tend to pay at the auction table. The more revealing part of his analysis, however, is the Gujarat Titans segment — it surfaces a structural inefficiency where a franchise has accumulated redundancy in one specialist skill (left-arm spin) while remaining thin in the most match-defining phase of batting. That kind of roster imbalance rarely resolves itself; it requires a proactive trade, and it is telling that GT has not already moved on it.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why might Pat Cummins miss IPL 2027?
According to Aakash Chopra, Australia's packed 2027 international calendar — which includes the Ashes and the ICC World Cup — combined with the IPL being scheduled immediately after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, makes Cummins' availability for SRH uncertain. Chopra described it as 'a lot of cricket coming up' that could prevent Cummins from committing to the full tournament.
Who could captain Sunrisers Hyderabad if Cummins is unavailable?
Aakash Chopra has suggested Ishan Kishan as the likeliest full-time captain for SRH in IPL 2027 if Pat Cummins is unavailable. Kishan has previously led the side in Cummins' absence and is considered the natural internal successor.
What squad changes has Aakash Chopra suggested for Gujarat Titans?
Chopra recommends that Gujarat Titans consider releasing either Shahrukh Khan or Ravindra Tewatia (both valued at ₹4 crore), and potentially trade one of their left-arm spinners — Sai Kishore or Manav Suthar — to acquire a middle-order batter. He also flagged Esterhuizen and Ishant Sharma as possible releases given limited playing time.
When is the IPL 2027 retention deadline?
The exact date of the IPL 2027 retention deadline has not been specified in Chopra's remarks, but his analysis was made as franchises actively assess their squads ahead of the upcoming window closing. Decisions on releases and trades will be made before the player retention and auction process begins.
Why are both Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar a problem for Gujarat Titans?
Gujarat Titans cannot field both Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar simultaneously, as they occupy the same specialist left-arm spin slot. Chopra argues that this overlap represents a tradeable asset — several franchises would be keen on a quality Indian left-arm spinner — which GT could use to address their bigger need: a settled middle-order batter.
