Pat Cummins to miss CSK clash, likely to return on April 25 after injury recovery

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) received a major boost after regular captain Pat Cummins was cleared by Cricket Australia. The fast bowler completed his mandatory back scans in Sydney, confirming he has fully recovered ahead of the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home in IPL 2026.

Cummins rejoined the squad on April 17, just one day before their home match against Chennai Super Kings. However, the right-arm fast bowler will miss the upcoming fixture. The Hyderabad team management is targeting the away game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on April 25 for his return.

The Plan Is for April 25 - Daniel Vettori on Pat Cummins’ IPL 2026 Return

Pat Cummins missed the T20 World Cup 2026. He played only one Test match since the Caribbean tour ended last July. Cricket Australia released a medical update confirming his recovery after detailed back scans, clearing him to take part in the IPL.

Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori also shared details about Cummins’ return. He confirmed that the Australian fast bowler is not available for selection against Chennai Super Kings, despite rejoining the squad.

"He's flying today so he will be with us I think this evening," said SRH head coach Daniel Vettori, who added that "the plan is for the 25th (of April)" when asked about the regular skipper's return to the playing eleven.

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I'll Play the Back Half, Plus the Final - Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins had joined the squad before their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) but later returned to Australia for fitness checks after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) game.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad captain spoke about his rehabilitation program and reaching peak fitness for key matches. Cummins stated that the team’s medical staff carefully planned his workload to ensure he remains fully available during the crucial stages of the tournament.

"I'm back bowling. I'm bowling basically every third day at the moment. We've mapped out a plan to get me right by the middle of the tournament. So hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, I'll play the back half, plus the final," the Australia fast bowler had said.

Pat Cummins Set to Reclaim SRH Captaincy After Return from Injury

After his return, Pat Cummins is set to take back captaincy duties from interim skipper Ishan Kishan. The wicketkeeper-batter handled leadership responsibilities during the early phase of the tournament while Cummins focused on completing his rehabilitation program in Sydney.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pace attack struggled initially before finding a strong combination. Uncapped fast bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain delivered standout performances against Rajasthan Royals, picking up four-wicket hauls and helping address the team’s bowling concerns.

If Cummins returns from April 25 as planned, he will be available for eight remaining league matches. After the IPL, he will move on to a busy international schedule, including tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh, followed by important Test series against New Zealand and India.

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