Australian captain Pat Cummins has cast doubt over his immediate participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, preferring rest and recovery after the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 on home soil. With this decision, discussions regarding their availability have intensified.
Pat Cummins’ availability in T20 World Cup 2026 in doubt, Australia’s captaincy concerns raised
Pat Cummins has completed his Ashes 2025-26 duties on home soil, as the top fast bowler is now turning his attention to the next major target, and that is the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. After a cautious return from injury, Cummins has decided that rest is the priority ahead of the start of the big tournaments in India and Sri Lanka in early February.
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The Australian captain said that playing two Tests in a row was risky, so he decided to skip the last two Ashes Tests against England. Now, the star fast bowler just wants to stay fresh and fit and be ready for the showpiece events in India and Sri Lanka.
Pat Cummins told Channel 7 during the lunch break on the first day at the MCG: “Feeling good, so got through Adelaide without any problems, very happy. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was still coming back from a back injury, so playing back-to-back Test matches was quite a risk. Take some rest ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.”
“Playing back to back Test matches is quite risky so we will dig our heels in for a while. T20 World Cup next month.”
– Pat Cummins on his next step pic.twitter.com/J4POcYTsyO
– 7cricket (@7cricket) 26 December 2025
Injury and Pat Cummins’ cautious return
Cummins did not have a good start in the Ashes 2025-26 against England on home soil. He was ruled out of the first two Tests due to a lower back injury suffered during the West Indies tour earlier this year. However, he made a brilliant comeback in the third Test in Adelaide.
The Australian captain took six wickets and helped Australia win the third Test to clinch the Ashes series against England. As Australia retained the vase, they decided not to risk their captain in the remaining matches, keeping in mind the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Even though he did not take the field in the Boxing Day Test, Cummins remained with the Australian team in Melbourne and supported his teammates from the dressing room. However, they suffered a four-wicket defeat to England in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday, 27 December.
With no matches scheduled for Australia after the final Ashes Test starting at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on January 4, 2026, Cummins is now taking a short break to allow his body to fully recover ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, where they will begin their campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11, 2026.
Also read: For the first time in 129 years! Two 2-day Tests in Ashes 2025-26 a historic shame
Andrew McDonald’s “grey” assessment
However, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said that Cummins’ availability for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will depend on his recovery. He added that Cummins will have to undergo scans to check how his back is responding, but he is positive about his chances.
McDonald said, “It will be an assessment. I’m assuming at some point he’ll have a check-in scan and gather more information about where his back is… waiting for the World Cup to see if he’ll be there or not. I can’t really say. It’s quite unclear at the moment. We’re hopeful.”
Notably, Cummins has played 22 matches in the T20 World Cup so far and has taken 23 wickets at an average of 28.26 and an economy rate of 7.83, while scoring runs at a strike rate of 21.6.
