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Cummins, who was retained for Rs 18 crore by SRH ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, will miss the first half of IPL 2026 due to fitness-related issues.
Pat Cummins gives big update on his SRH availability for IPL 2026. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins is associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. The Hyderabad-based franchise signed him for Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL 2024 auction and retained him for Rs 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction after he led them to the final in 2024. Cummins, who played all 14 matches for the 2016 champions last year, will miss the start of this year’s IPL due to his recovery from the injury that has kept him out of action in 2026.
In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan will captain SRH in the first few matches of IPL 2026, which includes the tournament opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday (March 28).
Cummins, who will be a big miss for SRH in the match against the defending champions, has joined the SRH squad in India and, ahead of the start of the league, has provided a big update about his recovery and possible return date.
According to Cummins, he has set the target to play the second half of IPL 2026, including the finals.
“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets,” Cummins said on the Business of Sport podcast in an episode recorded late last week. “The IPL is starting soon. I won’t make the start of that, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there playing.”
“I’m back bowling. I’m bowling basically every third day at the moment. We’ve mapped out a plan to get me right by (the) middle of the tournament, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, (I’ll) play the back half plus the finals,” he added.
SRH will expect Cummins to be available for the second half of IPL 2026 because in his absence, the team’s bowling attack looks very weak. The Orange Army have Brydon Carse, Eshan Malinga and David Payne as the three overseas fast bowling options, but none of them have much experience of playing in the IPL. In fact, Carse and Payne, who joined SRH as replacement players for Jack Edwards, will make their IPL debuts in 2026.
March 25, 2026, 23:52 IST
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