Pat Cummins, captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, has flown back to Australia for a final medical scan to assess his persistent lumbar stress injury, which has kept him out of the start of the IPL 2026 season and the recent T20 World Cup. The 32-year-old pacer had briefly joined the SRH camp for light training before heading home for a more detailed evaluation of his back.

Cummins’ return to action is pending the results of the scan, which will determine a clear timeline for his availability. If cleared by Cricket Australia, he is expected to rejoin the Hyderabad squad on April 17. Speaking ahead of the IPL, Cummins had expressed optimism about playing the second half of the tournament, stating that he was bowling every third day and working toward mid-season fitness.

In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan has been leading the team. SRH opened their IPL campaign with a 201/9 total but were defeated by defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The team bounced back strongly in their home opener, posting 226/8 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens to secure a 65-run victory.

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Cummins’ potential return is expected to provide a major boost to SRH’s bowling attack, which has relied on Eshan Malinga and David Payne as their overseas pace options. The Australian pacer has had limited competitive play since sustaining the injury in July last year, with the third Ashes Test in December marking his only match.

Initially hopeful of returning for the T20 World Cup, Cummins had to withdraw after a minor setback in his recovery process. His management of the injury has been cautious, reflecting both the severity of lumbar stress injuries and the importance of maintaining fitness for long-term performance in high-intensity tournaments like the IPL.

With the scan results pending, the cricketing world is watching closely to see when one of the IPL’s premier fast bowlers will make his comeback. A healthy Cummins could significantly impact SRH’s campaign and strengthen their aspirations for a strong finish in IPL 2026.

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