Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has been cleared to return to the Indian Premier League after receiving positive results from his back scans in Sydney.
Cricket Australia confirmed on April 16, 2026, that the fast bowler is now fit to resume bowling without any restrictions, ending weeks of uncertainty around his availability for the tournament.
Cummins first felt discomfort during Australia’s tour of the West Indies, and subsequent tests confirmed he was dealing with lumbar bone stress. The injury kept him out of almost the entire home season, with his only appearance coming in the Adelaide Ashes Test against England, where he took six wickets and helped Australia retain the series.
The injury also ruled him out of the T20 World Cup despite being named in the initial squad.
Cricket Australia’s Official Confirmation
Cricket Australia released an official statement confirming that Cummins’ latest scans showed the back stress issue, which had restricted him to a single professional match since last August, has now fully resolved.
The board confirmed he will fly back to India on Friday, April 17, to rejoin the SRH squad alongside Australia teammate Travis Head. Cummins also confirmed the timeline himself, stating through social media that he was targeting the April 25 match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur as his return fixture.
SRH face Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals before that fixture, and Cummins is expected to miss both matches as he eases back into preparation. Once available, he will also resume the captaincy from Ishan Kishan, who has led the side in his absence. Head coach Daniel Vettori noted that Cummins had remained involved with the group throughout.
“We’re fortunate enough that Pat has been around the group and he’s been able to have conversations with Ishan about his captaincy style,” Vettori said.
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SRH’s Current Standing
Without their captain, SRH have managed two wins from five matches and currently sit fourth in the IPL 2026 points table with four points and a net run rate of +0.576, behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and Punjab Kings.
The team showed character after failing to defend 219 against Punjab Kings by responding with a 57-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in their next game. Cummins’ return is expected to strengthen both the bowling attack and the team’s overall leadership structure.
Busy Road Ahead
Beyond the IPL, Cummins faces a demanding schedule. Australia are set to play at least 20 Tests between August and next July against Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and England, with a potential World Test Championship final in June adding further pressure. Despite that workload, Cummins has been clear about his intentions.
“Still very keen to play all three formats, and at the moment I think we can make it work,” he said on the Business of Sport podcast in late March.
Other Australian pacers are also being managed carefully, with Hazlewood rotating for RCB and Starc yet to join Delhi Capitals due to BBL injuries, making Cummins’ recovery all the more welcome for both his franchise and his country.
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