IPL 2025: Pat Cummins doubtful for tournament? Australia captain breaks silence

Australia National Cricket Team skipper Pat Cummins has hinted about his possible return to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and the ICC World Test Championship final. He said that his ankle is fine and he is targeting the league to make a comeback.

Australia National Cricket Team skipper Pat Cummins has been out of action ever since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has concluded. The fast bowler faced an ankle injury during the last game of the series and then was ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series.

Pat Cummins was ruled out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Cummins originally also was expected to miss the Sri Lanka Tests due to the birth of his second child but injury completely ruled him out. However, the ankle injury was much worse than expected as it also ruled him out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Cummins was initially added to the Australia squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but he didn't recover in time. However, now the fast bowler has started bowling again and had his first session of bowl which marked his rehab ahead of the important cricket season.

Should be fine [for the IPL], that's the plan - Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins said that he has given good rest to his ankle, which, according to him, is very strong now. He mentioned that he would be fine for the IPL. He also talked about his injury, saying that he didn't consider surgery and mostly focused on rehab. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he said:

"The ankle is all going strong, [have been] able to give it a good rest and then been building up slowly, which you don't get to do when you play lots of cricket," Cummins said. "It's feeling as strong as it has for a fair while. Should be fine [for the IPL], that's the plan. So have a few weeks of bowling, building back up and then hopefully don't have to worry about it for a while.

"It's something that we've opted never to have surgery on or intervene too much, just a lot to rehab," he explained. "Having this break meant that I could get a couple of cortisones and really rehab it well the last couple of weeks."

Sometimes by missing the odd tour, you actually end up playing more cricket for the whole year - Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins added that he is confident of building his workload in the IPL and then remaining available for the entire season. While stressing on the same, the Australia National Cricket Team skipper said:

"Sometimes by missing the odd tour, you actually end up playing more cricket for the whole year," he said. "I think in the past you used to play everything, whereas now, absolutely, you try and make sure the players are at their peak for as long as you can for the year and to play as much of the important stuff each year. It's just the way of the world. Everyone's used to it."

In the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith is captaining Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They were off to a solid start in the tournament as they chased over 350 runs against England before their second match got washed out against South Africa.

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