Pat Cummins Set to Return as SRH Captain Against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026

Pat Cummins is ready to return to the field as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for their IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals. After a lengthy recovery from a back injury that sidelined him for most of the year, Cummins has confirmed his fitness on social media. His return comes at a crucial time for SRH, who have shown mixed results under Ishan Kishan's leadership. With four wins in seven matches, SRH is currently positioned fourth in the points table. This match could significantly impact their standings as they aim for a top-two finish.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 24, 2026, 22:42 IST

Cummins' Comeback Announcement

Pat Cummins is poised to make his return to the field for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their upcoming match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) during the 36th match of IPL 2026. The SRH captain shared on Instagram that he is now fit and ready to play. Due to a back injury, Cummins has not participated in any competitive cricket this year, having only played one match in the 2025-26 Ashes series. His back problems also prevented him from participating in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Although he arrived in India prior to the IPL 2026 season, it was confirmed that he would miss several matches. After undergoing scans recently, he has been cleared to return to action. "It's been a long time coming, eager to get back into it tomorrow," he posted on Instagram. Cummins will reclaim the captaincy from Ishan Kishan.

Leadership Changes in SRH

During Cummins' absence, Ishan Kishan took over the captaincy of SRH, with Abhishek Sharma supporting him throughout the tournament. Kishan is now likely to be appointed as the new vice-captain, while Abhishek may be removed from the leadership group.

SRH's Recent Performance Under Kishan

SRH's Performance Under Ishan Kishan

Under Kishan's leadership, SRH faced a defeat against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in their opening match on March 28, failing to defend a target of 202 runs. However, they bounced back with a significant 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their second match. Unfortunately, SRH then experienced consecutive losses against Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings. In their fifth match, Kishan's SRH suffered a 57-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals. Nevertheless, they managed to secure victories against Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals in their subsequent games. Currently, SRH is entering the match against RR with three consecutive wins, holding 4 victories out of 7 matches, placing them fourth in the points table with 8 points and a net run rate of +0.820. A win could elevate them into the top two.

Cummins' Previous Tenure as Captain

SRH's Performance Under Cummins

Pat Cummins assumed the captaincy of SRH before the IPL 2024 season. Under his leadership, SRH had a remarkable run, reaching the finals for the first time since 2018, finishing second in the points table with 8 wins. They faced a significant eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the first qualifier but secured their place in the final by defeating Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier. In the final, KKR successfully chased down a target of 114 to claim the championship. However, Cummins' leadership faced challenges in IPL 2025, where SRH failed to qualify for the second round, finishing sixth with only 6 wins. Royal Challengers Bengaluru ultimately won the trophy that year. With Cummins' return, one of the overseas players will likely lose their spot in the final XI, as he hasn't played a T20 match since IPL 2025, with his last captaincy being against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 25.