Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins has officially targeted Saturday, April 25, as his comeback date for the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
The Australian pacer plans to lead his side in the high-stakes match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
Recovery And Return Timeline
Cummins has been recovering from a lumbar stress injury that has limited his play since mid-2025. Following positive results from recent medical scans in Sydney, he has been cleared to rejoin the squad. He confirmed via social media that he will fly back to India this Friday, April 17.
Although he will be back with the team, Cummins has explicitly ruled himself out of the upcoming matches against Chennai Super Kings (April 18) and Delhi Capitals (April 21). He intends to use the extra week to build up his bowling workload in the nets and ensure he is fully match-fit for the second half of the tournament.
Leadership During His Absence
In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan has been serving as the interim captain, with Abhishek Sharma as his deputy. The team has had a mixed campaign so far, recording two wins and three losses from their first five games.
The return of Cummins is expected to provide much-needed tactical stability and control, especially during the death overs. Head coach Daniel Vettori noted that while Cummins has been mentoring Kishan from the sidelines, his physical presence on the field will be a major boost for the “Orange Army” as they push for a playoff spot.
