When Will Pat Cummins Join SRH In IPL 2026?

The excitement for IPL 2026 is building momentum fast, and for all Sunrisers Hyderabad fans, Pat Cummins’ participation has emerged as one of the key topics of discussion.

Pat Cummins Likely to Miss Initial Matches

According to recent reports, Pat Cummins is expected to miss the initial matches of IPL 2026 due to his lower back stress injury. The injury has been troubling him since the last Ashes series.

Though an exact figure has not been confirmed, it has been reported that SRH will be forced to start their IPL 2026 campaign without their regular skipper.

Leadership Changes in Cummins’ Absence

In the absence of Cummins, SRH is expected to appoint a vice-captain. According to reports:

Ishan Kishan is expected to take up the role of captaincy.

Abhishek Sharma is expected to take up the role of vice-captain.

However, an official confirmation is yet to be made by the team.

Why Pat Cummins Is Crucial for SRH

Cummins has been an integral part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last few seasons:

He took 18 wickets in IPL 2024.
He then took 16 wickets in IPL 2025.
He has been a World Test Championship and ODI World Cup-winning captain.

He is a crucial player for SRH as his skillful batting and bowling in pressure situations make him indispensable for the team.

When Will Pat Cummins Join SRH In IPL 2026?

The only question left is when will he return at IPL 2026? Based on recent reports, it’s likely Cummins will join the team after he has fully healed from his injury (likely meaning that he will miss part of the season). If everything goes well with his recovery, the bowler is expected to join the team within the first few weeks of IPL 2026.