Pat Cummins Returns to Australia for Injury Assessment, Ishan Kishan to Lead SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad's captain Pat Cummins has returned to Australia for a final assessment of his back injury, missing significant playtime in recent months. In his absence, Ishan Kishan has taken over leadership duties. SRH has had a mixed start to IPL 2026, winning one match and losing another. Cummins hopes to return for the latter half of the tournament, while the team adjusts to his absence in both leadership and pace bowling roles. Read on for more details on the team's current situation and future prospects.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 4, 2026, 17:13 IST

Pat Cummins Heads Back to Australia for Final Injury Check

The captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Pat Cummins, has departed for Australia to undergo a final evaluation regarding his back injury. Cummins has been sidelined for a significant period due to ongoing back problems, participating in only one Ashes Test and missing the T20 World Cup 2026. Although he has been part of the SRH squad and has practiced bowling, he has not yet played in IPL 2026. If he receives clearance from Cricket Australia, Cummins is expected to rejoin the SRH team on April 17 and resume his captaincy duties.

Prior to the IPL season, Cummins addressed his injury status, expressing optimism about returning for the latter part of IPL 2026. He stated, "I'm still recovering from a back injury, but it's good. I'm back bowling in the nets. 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." He added that he is currently bowling every third day and has a recovery plan in place to ensure he is fit by the middle of the tournament.

Ishan Kishan Takes Charge as Captain

With Pat Cummins unavailable, Ishan Kishan has stepped up to lead the team until Cummins' return. So far in IPL 2026, SRH has played two matches, achieving one victory and one defeat. They began the tournament with a loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru but made a strong comeback with a convincing 65-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders. The absence of Cummins has left SRH not only without a dependable captain but also without a key player in their pace attack, which is currently relying on Eshan Malinga and David Payne as their overseas bowling options.