Pat Cummins Eyes IPL 2026 Comeback After Back Injury Recovery

Australia's Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins is recovering from a back injury and is optimistic about returning to play in the IPL 2026 season. He has resumed bowling and is following a structured rehabilitation plan. Although he will miss the start of the tournament, Cummins aims to be back in action by mid-season. In his absence, Ishan Kishan will lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The squad includes notable players like Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen. Read on for more details about Cummins' recovery and the team's lineup.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 26, 2026, 00:05 IST

Pat Cummins' Recovery Journey

Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia's Test and ODI teams, has shared positive news regarding his recovery from a back injury. He is targeting a return to play during the middle of the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

In a recent episode of a Business of Sport podcast, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, Cummins, who leads the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), mentioned that he has started bowling in the nets and is incrementally increasing his workload as part of a structured rehabilitation program. He stated, "I'm still recovering from a back injury, but it's good. I'm back bowling in the nets."

Return Timeline and Optimism

While Cummins acknowledged that he will miss the initial matches of the IPL, he remains hopeful about his return. He commented, "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 also shared that he is currently bowling every third day under a closely monitored schedule to ensure a safe return to competitive cricket. "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.

Previous Injuries and Leadership Changes

Cummins faced challenges last year, playing only one Test against England during the Ashes series due to a stress injury in his back. He also missed the ICC Men's T20 World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka.

In his absence, the Sunrisers Hyderabad have appointed Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan as the stand-in captain for the 2026 season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad for IPL 2026

The Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for IPL 2026 includes: Ishan Kishan, Salil Arora, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Ravichandran Smaran, Aniket Verma, Abhishek Sharma, Brydon Carse, Harsh Dubey, Krains Fuletra, Liam Livingstone, Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Shivang Kumar, Jack Edwards, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga, David Payne, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, David Payne, and Pat Cummins.