Daniel Vettori Optimistic About Pat Cummins' Return to IPL Action

Vettori's Optimism for Cummins' Comeback

Daniel Vettori, the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), expressed hope that Pat Cummins might return to play by late April. He noted that Cummins has been performing well in training sessions despite currently rehabilitating from a back injury. The SRH captain has temporarily left the IPL 2026 camp to return to Australia for a final assessment of his injury, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Upcoming Scan and Recovery Plan

During a pre-match press conference before SRH's game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday, Vettori mentioned that Cummins is set to undergo a scan on April 15. He emphasized that if all goes well, Cummins will rejoin the team and gradually increase his fitness level, aiming for a return to the field later in April. Vettori stated, "Pat has a scheduled scan on April 15 to ensure everything is clear. He has trained with us and looked impressive, so we hope he can play towards the end of April."

Details on Cummins' Rehabilitation

The upcoming scan is a routine procedure supervised by Cricket Australia (CA). Cummins departed India following SRH's recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Thursday and is expected to rejoin the squad on April 17, pending CA's clearance.

Current Team Dynamics

Cummins has been mostly inactive since July of the previous year, with only one appearance in an Ashes Test in Adelaide. He has recently resumed bowling in the nets as part of a structured rehabilitation program. In Cummins' absence, Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan has taken over as captain for SRH this season. The team began their IPL 2026 journey with a disappointing six-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru but rebounded strongly in their second match, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs at Eden Gardens.