has suffered a major shock Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the thick of ipl 2026 Season, Captain pat cummins The squad has been temporarily released to officially fly back Australia. This news comes as a shock to the fans, especially after SRH’s resurgence in the tournament. While Cummins has been a key figure in the dugout and training sessions, his involvement on the field this season has been non-existent, as a long-term injury has hampered his career for almost a year.
Australian talisman departs after SRH’s emphatic win Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) On 2 April. While the team celebrated the win at Eden Gardens, Cummins was already preparing for a crucial medical assessment that could determine the direction of his playing career in 2026.
What forced Pat Cummins to leave IPL 2026 midway and return to Australia?
The main reason for Cummins’ mid-season exit was a persistent lower back injury that first surfaced in July 2025. Since that initial injury, the world-class fast bowler has been a rare sight in competitive cricket. His only appearances since then were solitary excursions during the third ash test against England In December 2025.
Cummins was initially optimistic about the leadership Australia In t20 world cup 2026 earlier this year, but a minor setback in his rehabilitation caused him to miss the major event. His arrival in the SRH camp for IPL 2026 was seen as a positive sign, as he was seen bowling in the nets under the strict ‘return to play’ protocols. However, they have not yet received full approval Cricket Australia (CA) To handle the intensity of the match.
The current journey back home is for a pre-scheduled final back scan conducted under the direct supervision of Cricket Australia’s medical team. This scan is the final hurdle in his recovery roadmap. Cummins is expected to return if the results are clear India And will rejoin the Sunrisers team by April 17, aiming to feature in the latter half of the tournament and the playoffs.
SRH’s IPL 2026 performance and future plans under Ishan Kishan
Sidelining the regular captain, SRH management handed over the responsibility to the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan Captained, supported by Abhishek Sharma As vice-captain. Under Kishan’s leadership, the team has shown remarkable resilience.
After a disappointing six-wicket defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) In their opening match of the season, SRH bounced back in spectacular fashion against KKR. ‘Orange Army’ made a huge score of 226/8 thanks to the aggressive innings. Heinrich Clasen (52)Abhishek (48), and travis head (46). Their bowling unit is led by foreign recruits Ishaan Malinga And david paynesuccessfully defended the total, bowling out KKR for 161 runs.
Upcoming events of Sunrisers Hyderabad:
- 5 April: vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Hyderabad.
- 11 April: vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Mullanpur.
- 13 April: vs Rajasthan Royals (RR), at Hyderabad
Unless Cummins potentially returns for the fight on April 18 Chennai Super KingsKishan will continue to lead the team which currently looks to have one of the most dangerous batting lineups in the competition. Fans will be sweating over Australia’s scan results, hoping their ‘Captain Fantastic’ can return to take over at the end of the season.
