IPL 2026: Why Pat Cummins left SRH camp and travelled back home - EXPLAINED
Sunrisers Hyderabad's Pat Cummins has flown back to Australia for a scheduled scan on his injured back, a condition that previously ruled him out of the T20 World Cup. The pacer had a brief stint with the SRH camp for light training. Cricket Australia will oversee the assessment, with Ishan Kishan continuing as captain in Cummins' absence.
NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad star pacer Pat Cummins has returned home to undergo a scan on his injured back, as reported by ESPNcricinfo on Saturday. Cummins, who was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a lumbar bone stress injury, had briefly joined the SRH camp for light training but has now travelled back for a final assessment. According to ESPNcricinfo, the scan is a pre-scheduled one and will be conducted under the supervision of Cricket Australia (CA).
Ishan Kishan, who was appointed captain in Cummins’ absence, will continue to lead the side. Cummins left for Australia at the end of SRH’s last game. The Australian speedster could rejoin the team on April 17.
This means he is set to miss three matches during this period - against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5, Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 11, and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 13. Cummins had earlier indicated that he expects to be fit for the second half of the IPL if his recovery stays on track. "I'm still recovering from a back injury, but it's good.
I'm back bowling in the nets. 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,” Cummins had said on the Business of Sports podcast before joining the SRH camp last month.