Pat Cummins Ruled Out of T20 World Cup 2026 Due to Back Injury
Australia captain misses global event as Ben Dwarshuis named replacement in final squad.
Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with star fast bowler and captain Pat Cummins ruled out of the tournament due to a lingering back injury. Cummins, who has been sidelined for most of the recent Australian summer—including limited to just one Test in the Ashes series—failed to recover in time despite initial hopes of featuring in later stages. The injury, a lumbar stress issue that first surfaced months ago, has kept him out of competitive action since mid-December.
Cricket Australia confirmed the setback on January 31, announcing two changes to their 15-member squad. Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis from Sydney Sixers has been drafted in as Cummins’ direct replacement, praised by selector Tony Dodemaide for offering left-arm pace variety, sharp fielding, and lower-order hitting ability. In another surprise move, top-order batter Matthew Short was dropped, with Matthew Renshaw earning a call-up based on recent form, including his fresh T20I debut against Pakistan.
Notably, there is no late inclusion for veteran Steven Smith despite his strong Big Bash League performances. The squad continues under Mitchell Marsh’s captaincy as defending champions from 2021, with key pacers like Josh Hazlewood still in place alongside all-rounders such as Tim David. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, kicks off on February 7 and runs until March 8, featuring matches across iconic venues including Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad (final host), Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, and Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
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Cummins’ absence weakens Australia’s bowling attack significantly, especially in the pace department, as they aim to defend their title in a high-stakes competition. The team opens their campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11. Fans and experts will watch closely to see how the revamped lineup adapts without their premier quick.
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