Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to receive a major boost as their regular captain, Pat Cummins, is likely to rejoin the team this Friday, April 17.
The Australian fast bowler has been in Australia recovering from a persistent back injury that kept him out of the early stages of the tournament.
Fitness Test And Availability
Cummins is scheduled to undergo a final fitness test in Australia today, Wednesday. If he clears this test and receives a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Cricket Australia, he will fly to India immediately.
The franchise is optimistic that the 32-year-old will be available for their high-profile match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday, April 18. Before the season, Cummins had stated his goal was to be match-ready for the second half of the tournament and the playoffs. He has recently been bowling every third day in the nets to build up his workload.
Team Performance in His Absence
In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan has been leading the side. Under his captaincy, SRH has performed well, winning three out of their first five matches. Their most recent victory was a 57-run win over Rajasthan Royals on April 13, where Kishan scored a rapid 91 runs.
SRH currently sits in fourth place on the IPL 2026 points table. The return of Cummins is expected to strengthen their bowling attack and provide veteran leadership as the race for the playoffs intensifies.
Upcoming Match Details
- Match: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings
- Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
New Squad Addition
While waiting for Cummins, SRH has also made a change to their squad. Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka has joined the team as a replacement for England all-rounder Brydon Carse, who was ruled out of the season due to injury. Madushanka will join a pace unit that already includes Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat.
