The IPL 2026 season has yet again seen a heartwarming story unfold behind the scenes with Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Ishan Kishan backing his teammate, Sakib Hussain, as he made an impression on the biggest stage of all. Although Ishan made headlines with his batting prowess and helped Sunrisers Hyderabad enter the play-offs, the act of kindness he did for Sakib Hussain received just as much praise on social media as his performance. Sakib mentioned that Ishan gifted him many pairs of bowling spikes when he found out that he was struggling financially. This was not the first time Sakib played wearing cheap roadside shoes but things turned around for him when Ishan came to his rescue.
Sakib Hussain has openly spoken about how Ishan Kishan has supported him during his tough times, as he said, “I have six pairs of spikes currently. Ishan bhaiyya got them for me. Ishan told me he will get the spikes for me. He asked me what I wear, and I told him Adipower from Adidas.. Fine, I will get them for you.”
Sakib Hussain, one of the finest talents at Sunrisers Hyderabad, claimed a total of 15 wickets in 11 matches during the IPL 2026 season. It is interesting to note that there were tough times for the young pacer who could not afford good cricket shoes because he got multiple ankle injuries while playing games.
Sakib Hussain opens up about Ishan Kishan’s support
Sakib Hussain said there was a time when owning professional cricket spikes felt impossible. He used low-cost shoes worth a few hundred rupees, but they wore out quickly and caused repeated ankle problems due to poor grip. The youngster explained that branded spikes costing ₹12,000 to ₹15,000 were beyond his reach during his early cricket days. Things changed after he joined the SRH setup. Sakib revealed that Ishan Kishan asked him which spikes he preferred. After hearing the answer, Kishan bought him six to seven pairs of Adidas Adipower spikes. Sakib later said he played the entire IPL season using the footwear gifted by his senior teammate. The gesture carried added meaning because both players come from Bihar and understand the financial pressure faced by aspiring cricketers from smaller backgrounds.
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Kishan himself enjoyed his best IPL season. The left-hander scored 602 runs in 15 matches at an average of 40.13. He also smashed six fifties and 32 sixes during the campaign. In the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins early in the season, Kishan also helped lead the side and played a key role in SRH reaching the playoffs.
Rajasthan Royals end SRH’s IPL 2026 run
The Sunrisers Hyderabad journey ultimately ended at the Eliminator stage against the Rajasthan Royals in New Chandigarh. After being set an enormous target of 243 for 8 by Rajasthan Royals, thanks to a brilliant performance by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who slammed an unbeaten 97 off 29 deliveries, and Dhruv Jurel, who contributed a quick-fire half-century. In reply, SRH struggled early on after some crucial blows struck in the power play by Jofra Archer, whose victims included Abhishek Sharma, who was clean bowled for a duck. Additionally, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan could not capitalize on their explosive starts and succumbed to Jofra Archer’s bowling.
Ultimately, SRH were bowled out for 196 runs in 19.2 overs, losing the game by a margin of 47 runs. This defeat marked the end of a season which witnessed some fine performances along with strengthening the camaraderie within the team. Out of all the incidents that occurred throughout the tournament, Ishan Kishan’s gesture towards Sakib Hussain stands out amongst all.
