Pat Cummins Confident of IPL Return Despite World Cup Absence
Australia's Test cricket captain Pat Cummins has expressed his determination to recover from a persistent back injury in time to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this March. The star fast bowler has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup due to the same issue that plagued him during the recent Ashes series, where he missed four of the five Tests.
Injury Management Takes Priority
Sitting near Bronte beach in Sydney, Cummins described the situation as "annoying" but necessary. "I was very keen to play, and when we mapped out a plan for the Ashes and beyond, these T20s were a big part of it," he explained. "But the scan shows a bit going on, and it needs four more weeks to settle down." This precautionary approach reflects his long-term perspective on managing his body through cricket's demanding schedule.
The injury means Australia will enter the T20 World Cup without three of their premier pace bowlers. Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 internationals, while Josh Hazlewood is battling a hamstring issue. This leaves the team with significantly less experience in their fast bowling department, relying instead on younger talents like Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarsius, and Nathan Ellis.
Learning from Experience
Cummins understands better than most the importance of careful injury management. Back problems delayed his Test career for six years between his debut at 18 and his return as a mature 24-year-old. "The older I've got the better I've managed my body and my feel for the game," he reflected. "I know now when to push and when not to expend energy unnecessarily."
Despite playing 72 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 57 T20Is plus various franchise commitments, Cummins remains optimistic about his future across all formats. "Test cricket's my favourite but there's always lots of opportunity to flip between formats," he noted, mentioning his hopes to represent Australia in T20 cricket at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Australia's World Cup Prospects
While watching from home, Cummins remains confident about Australia's chances in the T20 World Cup. "T20 tournaments are always a bit funny," he observed. "Here there's five teams who have genuine chances to win it but any team can upset anyone at any stage." He pointed to Australia's 2021 World Cup victory despite poor preparation as evidence that recent warm-up losses to Pakistan shouldn't cause undue concern.
The captain highlighted several key players who could make the difference:
- Mitch Marsh and Travis Head as the world's most powerful opening partnership
- Adam Zampa's spin bowling expertise in subcontinental conditions
- The middle-order firepower of Glenn Maxwell and Tim David
Looking Beyond the World Cup
Cummins' immediate focus is on his $3.6 million IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he's also looking further ahead to Australia's packed Test schedule. The team faces 20 Tests in 10 months during 2026-27, including tours to Bangladesh, South Africa, and a home series against New Zealand.
Particularly significant is Australia's first Test tour to South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. "They're the world No 2 and just beat us in the 2025 World Test Championship so it's going to be huge," Cummins acknowledged. "South Africa is all about hard wickets, fast bowlers, brutal crowds."
Despite the emotional significance of returning to South Africa, Cummins believes Australia's experienced squad will approach the challenge with their characteristic relaxed attitude. "We tend to play best when we're relaxed so we don't need to go looking for fights," he concluded, suggesting the team's focus remains firmly on performance rather than past controversies.
