Pat Cummins Sets April 25 Return Target
SRH Captain Eyes Comeback as Playoff Picture Takes Shape
Sunrisers Hyderabad have been without their captain and ace fast bowler Pat Cummins for the entire first phase of IPL 2026, but the wait may almost be over. Cummins has officially targeted April 25 as his return date, with the match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur circled as his first game back this season.
The Long Road Back
Cummins has been managing a back injury since late in the Australian season. The lumbar bone stress injury kept him sidelined through much of the Ashes series, where he played only one out of five Tests. When IPL 2026 began on March 28, it was confirmed that he would miss the start of the tournament. He had joined the SRH squad in Bengaluru for the opening game against RCB, but was not cleared to play.
In early April, Cummins flew back to Australia to undergo a final scan on his injury. That scan has now cleared him to return to competitive cricket. He replied to a fan on Instagram, confirming the news in his typically direct way. He wrote he was flying back to India on April 17 and was targeting the April 25 game against Rajasthan Royals.
What His Return Means for SRH
Cummins is not just any player coming back. He is the only captain to have taken SRH to a final since 2018. In the past two IPL seasons, he picked up 34 wickets at an economy rate under 10 while also contributing valuable runs down the order. His batting average in IPL cricket is an extraordinary 152.24. He changes the balance of any team he walks into.
For SRH, the timing of his return could be ideal. The team has found their footing under Ishan Kishan, who has done a solid job as stand-in captain. The discovery of pace bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain has addressed one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. Adding Cummins to that attack creates something genuinely threatening for the second half of the tournament.
However, the team also suffered a blow at the same time. England fast bowler David Payne, who had joined SRH as a replacement for the injured Jack Edwards, has himself been ruled out of the squad. England pacer Brydon Carse was also injured earlier in the season and was replaced by Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka. So while Cummins is returning, the injury management department has been working overtime at SRH.
Ishan Kishan and the Leadership Question
Ishan Kishan has impressed as captain during Cummins’ absence. Under his leadership, SRH have shown fight and adaptability. He won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as captain earlier this year and brought that confidence into his IPL leadership role. Head coach Daniel Vettori has spoken highly of what Kishan brings to the team as a leader.
The question of who takes the captaincy back when Cummins returns will be straightforward. Cummins is the designated skipper and will assume the role again. But the spirit Kishan has built in the dressing room will remain an asset.
The Playoff Push
SRH currently sit fourth on the IPL 2026 points table with two wins from five matches. They have real quality in their batting unit with Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Add Cummins back into the bowling mix alongside Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, and SRH look like a team that could be formidable in the back half of the tournament.
The next two weeks will be critical for the playoff picture. With Cummins available from April 25, SRH could be the most improved team in the second half of IPL 2026.
Written by 8jjsports.com | April 18, 2026
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