SRH Captains List: Every Sunrisers Hyderabad Skipper in IPL History

Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the Indian Premier League in 2013, rising from the ashes of the terminated Deccan Chargers franchise. In the seasons since, the men in orange have experienced every shade of IPL fortune: a maiden title, a runners-up finish, mid-table mediocrity and wooden-spoon despair. Through it all, the captaincy has been central to their story, from Kumar Sangakkara’s inaugural leadership to David Warner’s title triumph and Pat Cummins’ modern revolution. Here is every player who has captained SRH.

The Founding Captains: Sangakkara, White, Dhawan and Sammy

SRH’s first season in 2013 was a leadership merry-go-round. Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan legend, was the franchise’s inaugural captain, leading in 9 matches. When results wobbled, the armband passed to Australian Cameron White, who steadied the ship impressively with 5 wins in 8 matches and guided the team to the playoffs in their debut campaign. Shikhar Dhawan then took over across 2013 and 2014, leading in 16 matches with his aggressive outlook, while West Indian Darren Sammy captained 4 matches in 2014 during a transitional phase. It was a chaotic start, but the playoff appearance in year one showed the franchise had promise.

The Warner Era: SRH’s Golden Age

In 2015, David Warner took charge, and Sunrisers Hyderabad found their identity. The pugnacious Australian opener led the side until 2021, captaining 67 matches with 35 wins, and his reign peaked in 2016 when SRH beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final to win their maiden IPL title. Warner led from the front with the bat, finishing among the tournament’s top run-scorers, and built a team in his own image: tough, disciplined and brilliant in the field. His partnership with the management created the most stable and successful period in franchise history.

Williamson and the Stand-Ins

When Warner was unavailable in 2018, Kane Williamson stepped in and nearly delivered a fairy tale, leading SRH to the final where they lost to Chennai Super Kings. Williamson’s calm, cerebral leadership earned widespread admiration, and he remained in the role through 2022, captaining 46 matches in total. During this period, Bhuvneshwar Kumar stood in as captain on several occasions across 2019 to 2023, leading 8 matches, while Manish Pandey captained a single match in 2021. These were years of transition, with the franchise searching for a new direction after the Warner era ended.

Markram’s Struggles and the Cummins Revolution

Aiden Markram was handed the captaincy in 2023 but endured a difficult season, with just 4 wins in 13 matches, the worst record for any full-season SRH captain. The franchise responded boldly, signing Pat Cummins for a record fee and installing the Australian as captain from 2024. The impact was immediate: Cummins led SRH to the final in his first season, where they finished runners-up to Kolkata Knight Riders, and his aggressive, fearless brand of cricket transformed the team’s identity. The 2024 campaign featured some of the most destructive batting in IPL history, with SRH repeatedly shattering powerplay and team-total records.

Complete SRH Captains List

Cummins has continued as captain through the 2026 season, establishing himself as one of the franchise’s most successful leaders. During the 2026 campaign, Ishan Kishan also stood in as captain for a handful of matches, adding his name to the leadership roll.

Who Was SRH’s Best Captain?

David Warner remains the statistical and emotional gold standard: most matches, most wins, and the only IPL title in franchise history. But Pat Cummins has the best win percentage of any long-term captain and has redefined the team’s playing philosophy. Cameron White’s brief but brilliant 2013 stint deserves recognition too, with the highest win percentage of all. The franchise’s leadership story is ultimately one of two great eras, Warner’s grit and Cummins’ aggression, with the orange army hoping the second delivers the title the first one did.

The Captaincy and the Team’s Identity

SRH’s captains have always shaped the team’s character. Under Warner, they were the league’s best bowling and fielding unit, defending modest totals through discipline. Under Cummins, they became its most explosive batting side, chasing down giants with fearless hitting. The contrast shows how much a captain’s personality imprints on a franchise. Through the 2026 season, the Cummins era has given SRH a clear identity again after years of drift, and the fans in Hyderabad have embraced it wholeheartedly.

Who was the first captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Kumar Sangakkara was the first captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading the franchise in its debut 2013 season.

Who is the most successful SRH captain?

David Warner is the most successful SRH captain, leading the team in 67 matches and winning the IPL title in 2016, the franchise’s only championship.

Who is the current captain of SRH?

Pat Cummins is the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, appointed ahead of the 2024 season, and has continued in the role through the 2026 campaign.

How many IPL titles has SRH won?

Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the IPL once, in 2016 under David Warner, when they defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final.

Who captained SRH to the 2024 final?

Pat Cummins captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the 2024 IPL final in his debut season as skipper, where they finished runners-up to Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Stand-Ins and One-Match Leaders

Beyond the main captains, SRH’s history includes fascinating footnotes. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s eight matches as stand-in captain across several seasons showed the trust the franchise placed in its senior bowler, even if results were mixed. Manish Pandey’s single match in charge in 2021 is the kind of trivia that delights cricket statisticians. Most recently, Ishan Kishan stood in for a handful of games during the 2026 season, adding a new name to the leadership list.

These brief reigns matter because they reveal squad depth and character. A franchise that can hand the armband to different players without crisis is a healthy one, and SRH’s willingness to trust senior pros in the role speaks to a strong dressing-room culture.

Which SRH captain had the highest win percentage?

Cameron White has the highest win percentage among SRH captains at 62.50 percent, though from only 8 matches in 2013. Among long-term captains, Pat Cummins leads with 52.63 percent through the 2026 season.