Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stand-in captain Ishan Kishan was involved in banter with teammate Zeeshan Ansari during a practice match on Saturday. The young leg-spinner gave a fiery send-off to his captain ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which is set to begin on Saturday, March 28.
The incident occurred during an intra-squad simulation game between SRH A and SRH B, as players competed for rhythm and crucial starting roles ahead of their tournament opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bengaluru. These practice sessions provide essential match preparation for the team.
Watch: Zeeshan Ansari Gives Fiery Send-Off To Ishan Kishan In Intra-Squad Game
During the eighth over of the second innings, Ishan Kishan launched a brutal attack on Zeeshan Ansari. The left-handed batter dominated the young leg-spinner, smashing two sixes and two boundaries off the first four deliveries.
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Ishan Kishan looked completely comfortable at the crease, racing to 52 runs off just 20 balls. However, on the fifth delivery, Ansari managed to outfox the captain with a clever full ball.
Kishan failed to get underneath it and slogged the ball straight into the hands of the deep square leg fielder. After taking the crucial wicket, Ansari produced an animated celebration.
The 26-year-old bowler pointed toward the pavilion, gesturing for his captain to walk back. Instead of escalating the moment, Ishan defused the situation by laughing off the fiery send-off as he walked away.
🚨 BIG FIGHT IN SRH PRACTICE MATCH !🤯
SRH captain Ishan Kishan scored 20 runs in one over against leg-spinner Zeeshan, but on the last ball of the over, Zeeshan dismissed him. After taking the wicket, Zeeshan pointed his finger at Ishan Kishan, which led to an argument between… pic.twitter.com/W9eLDOVyVB
— lndian Sports Netwrk (@IS_Netwrk29) March 21, 2026
Ishan Kishan to Lead SRH in Initial Stages of IPL 2026
Kishan has recently assumed interim leadership duties for Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Abhishek Sharma serving as vice-captain. He replaces regular skipper Pat Cummins, who will miss the opening matches while recovering from a lower back stress injury.
The Australian fast bowler previously missed several major international assignments, including the recent Ashes series and the T20 World Cup 2026.
The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter brings valuable leadership experience to the role. He recently captained his domestic side, Jharkhand, to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. His performances also helped him earn a recall to the Indian team after a two-year absence from international cricket.
Ishan Kishan Enters IPL 2026 In Red-Hot Form After Impressive T20 Performances
Kishan enters the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in stunning form. During the recent T20 World Cup 2026, he finished as the second-highest run-getter for India and the fourth-highest run-scorer overall.
The left-handed batter scored 317 runs in nine matches at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate of 193.29. He smashed three half-centuries, including a 25-ball 54 in the final against New Zealand that helped India secure the title.
During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he amassed 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.32. He also scored 215 runs against New Zealand at an unbelievable strike rate of 231.18 during the recent home T20I bilateral series.
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