Why did Pat Cummins miss PBKS vs SRH clash of IPL 2026?
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Ishan Kishan is leading SRH against PBKS in Pat Cummins’ absence in IPL 2026.
Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad are up against each other in match no. 17 of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). This contest is taking place in New Chandigarh on April 11 (Saturday).
Also Read: Why did Jaydev Unadkat & Liam Livingstone miss PBKS vs SRH clash of IPL 2026?
SRH didn’t have the kind of start they would have wanted, as in the three games so far, they have won one and lost two. With two points, they take the sixth spot in the points table.
On the other hand, PBKS have looked sublime touch. They won two games in a row against the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to start the tournament on a high note. Their previous game against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was abandoned due to rain.
In the first three games, SRH were without captain Pat Cummins and his absence was felt massively as the team struggled badly with the ball. Due to a back injury, he was ruled out of the initial games of the tournament, and Ishan Kishan was named as the captain.
In PBKS vs SRH, yet again, it wasn’t Cummins who came out for the toss as the SRH captain. This raised many concerns as to why he missed the game, especially with him already being absent for the first three games of IPL 2026.
Why is Pat Cummins not playing PBKS vs SRH game of IPL 2026
Pat Cummins suffered a lumbar stress back injury last year in July. He made his international comeback during the Ashes 2025-26 and played one test. But after that, he was ruled out as the injury became serious. As a result, he couldn’t take part in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Cummins was with SRH in the first few games, but he left the team and flew back to Australia for a final assessment of his back injury. The test will be conducted by Cricket Australia (CA), and if he successfully passes it, he will get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in IPL 2026.
Cummins had a decent last season, where he finished with 16 wickets at an economy rate of 9.06. There are chances that he might join the squad after April 17.
Why is Pat Cummins not part of SRH’s playing XI against PBKS?
Pat Cummins is still recovering from a back injury, which is why he is not playing.
Who is captaining SRH in the clash against PBKS in IPL 2026?
Ishan Kishan is captaining SRH in the encounter.
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Ankitjit Singh is a dedicated sports journalist whose childhood dream was to play cricket—now, he serves the game through his work. With over three years of experience in reporting, writing, and editing, he brings deep insight to his coverage. A journalism graduate from Delhi University, Ankitjit’s passion for cricket took root during his college days and continues to drive his career.