IPL 2026 – Pat Cummins cleared for IPL return, targeting late April comeback

Cummins, who is SRH’s captain, was with the team for the start of the tournament before returning to Australia earlier this month for scheduled follow-up scans which have shown the stress injury that has restricted him to one match since last July has now healed.

In a reply to an Instagram post of a family holiday in the Blue Mountains, Cummins responded he was due to fly back to India on Friday and was aiming to play on April 25 against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

Cummins was diagnosed with lumbar bone stress in August having initially felt some soreness during the tour of West Indies. The injury restricted him to a single match during the home season when he was able to play the Adelaide Test against England, where he took six wickets to help Australia retain the Ashes.

There had been some hope that he would recover in time for the T20 World Cup, and was named in the initial squad, but that tournament came too soon, as did the start of the IPL.

In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan has been leading SRH. “We’re fortunate enough that Pat has been around the group and he’s been able to have conversations with Ishan about his captaincy style,” head coach Daniel Vettori said earlier in the tournament.

Cummins has a huge workload on the horizon with Australia to play at least 20 Tests from August to next July with series against Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, India and England plus the 150th anniversary fixture at the MCG. There could also be the World Test Championship final in June if Australia qualify.

Josh Hazlewood has recently returned from injury for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and is being carefully managed. After his comeback match against Rajasthan Royals he was rested for RCB’s next match before impressing against Lucknow Super Giants with 1 for 20.

Fellow Test bowler Mitchell Starc has yet to join Delhi Capitals as he recovers from shoulder and elbow injuries picked up during the BBL.

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