Will Pat Cummins play tonight in RCB vs SRH clash of IPL 2026?
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Pat Cummins missed the T20 World Cup 2026 due to his back injury.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to commence tonight at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where defending champion Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). While RCB won their maiden title last season, SRH had a poor campaign, finishing sixth in the league table.
Pat Cummins, who joined the Orange Army in 2024 for a whopping INR 20.50 crore, led the team to the tournament final that season, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, their performance in the second season dipped, potentially due to their aggressive approach.
Australia bowler Pat Cummins, who has captained SRH in the last two seasons, is one of the most important names for the SRH in the IPL, and, according to Cricket Australia, he’s expected to miss a few initial games, along with compatriots Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
However, Cummins has returned to SRH practice ahead of the season opener. He was also seen bowling in the nets as he looked fit.
Will Pat Cummins play in RCB vs SRH clash of IPL 2026?
Two days ago, on Thursday, March 26, Pat Cummins released a statement about his fitness, saying he will miss the season opener against the RCB because he’s still recovering from a back issue. However, Cummins also promised to return soon to the Orange Army.
The Australian bowler said:
“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets. The IPL is starting soon. I won’t make the start of that, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there playing.”
“I’m back bowling. I’m bowling basically every third day at the moment. We’ve mapped out a plan to get me right by [the] middle of the tournament, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, [I’ll] play the back half plus the finals.”
Cummins’s back injury kept him on the sidelines for a majority of the Ashes and then ruled him out of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. Talking about his performance over the last two seasons, Cummins has taken 34 wickets for the SRH in 30 matches, at an economy rate of 9.
The 35-year-old, who comes to bat at the 7th or 8th spot, also adds depth in the batting line-up. Thus, his absence in the initial matches could prove a huge blow to the SRH.
Who will captain SRH in Pat Cummins’s absence?
Ishan Kishan will lead SRH in Pat Cummins’ absence.
When did Pat Cummins make his IPL debut?
Pat Cummins made his IPL debut in 2014 for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
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