Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins is hopeful that he will be fit to play in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins on March 26. However, he said his involvement will depend on how well his back injury recovers. Cummins explained that the medical team will closely monitor his back. He will undergo another scan in a few weeks, and if the results are positive, he will slowly return to training. He added that playing T20 cricket is easier on the body, which is why he came close to playing in the recent T20 World Cup.
Francisco Lindor and Pat Cummins are just like us watching tennis 📷#fromthestands #AO26 @newbalance @NewBalanceAU pic.twitter.com/5pcrpIZQRe
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2026
The Australian captain had to miss the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India due to a minor setback in his recovery. He has been dealing with a back injury for the past seven months, which limited him to just one Test match during the five-match Ashes series at home. Cummins said the setback was disappointing, but not serious. He feels physically fine now, but simply ran out of time to recover fully before the tournament. He plans to rest for a few weeks and then assess his condition again.
This is how I will explain to future generations how SRH and Pat Cummins changed T20 cricket forever🔥🧡 pic.twitter.com/y1BtTngvBV
— Kakarot⚡🇮🇳🦅 (@Marvelf34683244) January 31, 2026
After the Adelaide Test, doctors advised that his back would need between four and eight weeks to heal properly before he could start training again. At first, Cummins believed four weeks would be enough because he was feeling strong. However, a follow-up scan showed that he needed a couple more weeks of rest, making his return too rushed. The decision to take extra care with his recovery was also influenced by Australia’s busy schedule over the next year and a half. The team has important series coming up, including home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand, tours of South Africa and India, an away Ashes series, an ODI World Cup, and a possible World Test Championship final.
🚨BREAKING: Huge blow for Australia ahead of World Cup🚨
Pat Cummins ruled out due to back injury.
Ben Dwarshuis comes in as replacement.
Massive setback for the Aussies! 💔🇦🇺#T20WorldCup2026 #ICCT20WORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/Rtc4il3ldj
— Tushar CricInfo (@cricfan_tushar) January 31, 2026
Cummins said being cautious now will help him stay fit in the long run. He believes that if he recovers fully before returning, he can avoid recurring problems and be ready for all the major matches ahead.
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