IPL 2026: How many games will Pat Cummins miss for SRH? Revealed
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Pat Cummins is an integral part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad set-up in IPL.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is still the biggest T20 tournament in the world and the start of the 2026 season is very near. The level of competition is pretty high, and every franchise fights tooth and nail to win the coveted trophy. Fans all over the world must be gearing up to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in action, as the Orange Army has been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the tournament in the last two seasons because of their firepower.
The excitement reached a boiling point during the auction as the front office worked to mix seasoned pros with exciting young prospects to keep the squad competitive. Right now, the pre-season air is thick with talk of tactics and training drills while the fans wait for that massive opening night to finally get things moving at the stadium.
Pat Cummins to miss first few games of IPL 2026 for SRH
However, a fresh report from Cricbuzz suggests the SRH might have to start the IPL 2026 on the back foot since Pat Cummins will likely miss those first few games. This news follows ongoing worries about a lower back stress injury that has kept the Australia Test and ODI captain out of action ever since the last Ashes series.
There have been reports which claimed that Ishan Kishan will lead SRH in Cummins’ absence with Abhishek Sharma set to be his deputy. The official confirmation in this regard is yet to be made, but one of the two is likely to take the leadership in Cummins’ absence.
Cummins more than earned his keep by taking 18 wickets in 2024 and following that up with another 16 in 2025 to lead the Hyderabad attack. As a captain who has won both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup, he brings a level of calm and tactical smarts that few can match, and he remains a giant of the modern game because he can change a match with either the ball or the bat.
SRH have to find a temporary captain who can keep that no-fear attitude alive without their usual leader there to call the shots.
Why is Pat Cummins likely to miss the start of IPL 2026?
He is currently recovering from a lingering lower back stress injury that has kept him out of action since the recent Ashes series.
Who are the top candidates to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in his absence?
Team management is reportedly considering either Ishan Kishan or Abhishek Sharma to take over the captaincy duties for the opening fixtures.
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