Pat Cummins OUT of Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's comeback series!! Dark future ahead

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins will miss the upcoming white-ball series against India and New Zealand due to a lower-back injury. The team is managing Cummins carefully, as a flare-up could jeopardize his preparation for the 2025-26 Ashes series against England later this summer at home.

Earlier this year, Cummins skipped the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 to manage his workload. The Australian pacer featured throughout the 2025 IPL. He led the Australia team in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final against South Africa at Lord’s and all three Tests against the West Indies.

Cummins was rested from the Caribbean white-ball series, but the demanding schedule took a toll on his body. The pacer experienced back pain, and medical scans revealed “a level of lumbar bone stress.”

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Pat Cummins Ruled Out of White-Ball Series Against India

Cricket Australia confirmed that Pat Cummins experienced back pain during a recent break. He has been ruled out of the upcoming limited-overs series against India and New Zealand. Cummins will continue his rehabilitation, with his return to bowling planned as part of preparations for the Ashes.

"Cummins won't be considered for the upcoming limited-overs series against India (or New Zealand) and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his Ashes preparation," Cricket Australia's statement read.

Medical assessments confirmed the injury is not a stress fracture. It would have required surgery and sidelined him for months, as experienced by Cameron Green, who was out for nearly six months.

Australia to Host India for Three ODIs and Five T20Is in October-November 2025

Australia will host India in a three-match ODI series starting October 19 in Perth, followed by a five-match T20I series beginning October 29. Veteran Indian batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will return to India’s lineup after a six-month hiatus.

The tour begins with three ODIs from October 19 in Perth. Following the ODIs, the focus will shift to a five-match T20I series starting October 29.

The T20I series will be crucial for Australia, who have been in strong form recently against the West Indies and South Africa. Australia is a formidable side for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Pat Cummins Faces Risk of Missing Start of Ashes 2025-26 Series

Pat Cummins is also at risk of missing the start of the Ashes 2025-26 series. Since becoming Australia’s captain nearly four years ago, he has missed only two Tests due to injury. Only Nathan Lyon has played in more matches since Cummins’ comeback in 2017.

Pat Cummins has been a consistent performer in the Ashes, featuring in almost all of Australia’s past 20 Tests against England, including every match at home in 2017–18 and on tours in 2019 and 2023. He will be hoping to continue that streak in the 2025–26 series.

Scott Boland could provide a potential replacement, but losing Cummins would be a major setback for Australia. Josh Hazlewood (34), Mitchell Starc (35), and Boland (36) would form the bowling attack if Cummins misses the match.

Also read: England Playing XI for 1st ODI against South Africa announced, Sonny Baker set for debut