Abhishek Sharma reportedly unhappy at Sunrisers Hyderabad as Mumbai and Gujarat hold trade talks

Abhishek Sharma is reported to be unhappy at Sunrisers Hyderabad and is seeking to leave the franchise, according to a Times of India story published as the IPL 2027 season approaches. The report says informal discussions have taken place with Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, while Delhi Capitals have also been mentioned as a possible destination.

Sunrisers handed the captaincy to Ishan Kishan during IPL 2026 when Pat Cummins missed the first half of that season, a move the Times of India report says did not sit well with Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek has been with SRH since 2019 and established himself as a regular opener in 2022, when he opened alongside Travis Head. The story adds that Abhishek had harboured ambitions of captaining SRH.

The report describes informal trade talks involving Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, and lists Delhi Capitals among potential landing spots. The report links Delhi as an option partly because Abhishek’s mentor Yuvraj Singh is now part of the Capitals’ setup.

SRH chief executive K Shanmugam has rejected the reports, calling them "not true." His denial followed the media coverage suggesting Abhishek was looking to exit the franchise.

Abhishek has been described in the report as an important member of SRH’s batting setup since becoming a regular opener, and the piece says his performances for the franchise helped him earn an India call-up. The report frames him as one of the recognised names in T20 cricket as a result of those performances.

The Times of India report also notes the captaincy situation could remain a talking point if Pat Cummins is unavailable for a significant portion of IPL 2027, with Ishan Kishan expected to lead in Cummins’ absence. The story adds that Abhishek is reportedly seeking a team where he would have a larger leadership role.

No deal has been finalised and there is no official confirmation of a transfer.