Last Updated on 3 weeks ago by Charbel Coorey
Pat Cummins is targeting a return to action in the second-half of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Sunrisers Hyderabad and Australia captain is continuing his recovery from a lumbar stress injury, which saw him play just one Ashes Test. He then missed the entire T20 World Cup due to a minor setback.
Aiming to back in back-half of IPL 2026 – Pat Cummins
Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Cummins confirmed he is back bowling in the nets. Also, the pace bowler has arrived in India and was going through the paces at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as confirmed by ESPNcricinfo.
“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets,” he said.
“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.
“I’m back bowling. I’m bowling basically every third day at the moment. 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.”
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SRH are aiming for a much improved season after finishing bottom of the table in 2025. Their powerful batting lineup – which fired them to the 2024 final – failed to get going last season, while their bowlers struggled to contain opponents.
“We’ve got quite an experienced bowling group of local guys, so a few of the younger guys that come through that I don’t know as well, particularly early on in a season, I’m definitely leaning on the local guys who do know them well – or even speak the language,” Cummins said.
Cummins forms part of a host of Australians either unavailable for the early part of the campaign or ruled out altogether. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will also join Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) later in the tournament as part of Cricket Australia’s player management program.
SRH begin their campaign away at defending champions RCB in the tournament opener on March 28.
