The future of Pat Cummins in the upcoming IPL 2026 has become a major talking point following the shocking news of his withdrawal from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. As the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabadhis potential absence would leave a massive void in the team’s leadership and bowling attack. Fans and experts alike have been waiting for a definitive answer regarding his fitness. The Australian pacer has finally addressed these concerns, providing a detailed look into his recovery process and the factors that will determine his presence on the field.

Pat Cummins to miss IPL 2026 after T20 World Cup 2026? SRH seamer clears the air

Cummins has made it clear that his participation in IPL 2026 is currently contingent on medical clearance. After being replaced by Ben Dwarshuis in Australia’s World Cup squad due to a ‘minor setback’ with his back, Cummins is taking a cautious approach to his return. He noted that while T20 cricket is physically less demanding than the Test arena, he will not rush the process until he receives positive news from his upcoming scans.

“We’ll just be guided by my back. We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up. T20s are a little bit easier to get up for, that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup. I feel pretty good, just a minor setback, and I just ran out of time, really. I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there. We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up,” Cummins was quoted as saying by the Cricbuzz.

Cummins’ strategic conservatism for a packed global schedule

Beyond the immediate concerns of the IPL, Cummins is looking at the broader picture of his career and Australia’s grueling 18-month itinerary. The schedule includes a potential World Test Championship final, tours to India and South Africa and an away Ashes series. By being conservative now, Cummins hopes to avoid a situation where a premature return leads to a long-term injury cycle that could jeopardize his participation in these high-stakes international fixtures.

“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up. We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches. Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail a bit. Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but I just had a follow-up scan. They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight.” Cummins concluded.