Pat Cummins Faces Off with Robotic Dog During IPL 2026 Eliminator
Unexpected Distraction for SRH Captain
During the warm-up session before the IPL 2026 Eliminator against the Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins encountered an unusual and high-tech distraction at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on May 27.
SRH's journey in the IPL 2026 concluded with a 47-run defeat to the Royals. Chasing a daunting target of 244 runs, the Sunrisers were dismissed for 196 runs in just 19.2 overs. Only Ishan Kishan (33), Nitish Kumar Reddy (38), and Salil Arora (35) managed to score over 30 runs, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled significantly.
Bowling Dominance by Rajasthan Royals
Jofra Archer was the standout bowler for RR, taking 3 wickets for 58 runs at an economy rate of 14.50 over four overs. Nandra Burger (2/26), Sushant Mishra (2/21), and Ravindra Jadeja (2/21) each contributed with two wickets, showcasing a strong team effort that thwarted the Sunrisers' chase and secured the Royals a spot in Qualifier 2.
Viral Moment with AI Robot Dog
As the Sunrisers faced elimination, a humorous incident from the pre-match warm-ups gained traction on social media. Pat Cummins found himself in a standoff with Champak, the IPL's AI-powered robotic camera dog.
In a viral video shared widely on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), Cummins was seen focused on his warm-up when the robotic dog entered his training area to capture footage. Noticing the distraction, Cummins gestured to the operator to move the robot away, reportedly stating, 'Remove this from here.'
Look at the way Pat Cummins got scared and angry when the robot dog was warming up with him. He said, 'Remove this from here.' Pat Cummins literally looked angry at the robot dog.
The AI robot dog, introduced to the IPL in 2025, quickly became a sensation. Equipped with a micro-gimbal camera, microphone, and voice recognition, it was brought in by the BCCI in collaboration with wOmnicam to provide a unique perspective of the game.
This robotic canine is designed to delve into players' training sessions, dugouts, and team huddles, capturing exclusive moments that traditional cameras cannot.
SRH's Performance in IPL 2026
Despite their abrupt exit in the Eliminator, Sunrisers Hyderabad had a commendable IPL 2026 campaign. Initially led by Ishan Kishan, the team won four out of seven matches, earning 8 points with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.254. After Pat Cummins took over as captain, the team secured five victories in the subsequent seven matches, finishing third in the league stage with 16 points and an NRR of +0.524.
Unfortunately, SRH could not maintain their late-season momentum into the playoffs, ultimately being eliminated by the Rajasthan Royals. Since their IPL triumph in 2016, SRH has remained a competitive force in the league, but they were unable to secure a second title during the 2026 season.