Cummins returns to Australia for back scan, SRH await update

Pat Cummins has returned to Australia from the IPL 2026 to undergo a final scan on his injured back, with Sunrisers Hyderabad awaiting clarity on his availability for the second half of the tournament.

The scan, overseen by Cricket Australia, is part of a planned recovery process rather than a setback. Cummins, who has been sidelined since July last year apart from a single Ashes Test appearance, had been gradually building up his workload in training sessions after joining the SRH camp.

He left India following SRH’s recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata and is expected to rejoin the squad around April 17, provided he receives medical clearance.

Cummins had already indicated before the season that he would likely feature only in the latter half of the IPL. “If nothing goes wrong, [I’ll] play the back half plus the finals,” he had said, reflecting a cautious approach to managing his return from injury.

In his absence, Ishan Kishan has taken over captaincy duties and will continue to lead the side for now. SRH have relied on overseas seamers such as Eshan Malinga and David Payne to fill the void left by Cummins’ absence.

The Australian quick had initially targeted a comeback during the T20 World Cup earlier this year but suffered a minor setback in his recovery. Since then, he has been following a structured rehabilitation plan, including bowling every few days to build match fitness.

For SRH, Cummins’ potential return could be a significant boost in the latter stages of the tournament, both as a strike bowler and a leader. Until then, the franchise will hope their current combination can keep them competitive as they navigate the early phase of IPL 2026.