Will Pat Cummins play tonight for SRH vs CSK in IPL 2026?
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Pat Cummins’ absence in IPL 2026 has been a big blow for SRH.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be hosting Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their next game of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The match will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, April 18.
SRH are having a decent time IPL 2026, as in the five games so far, they have won two and lost three. With four points, they take the fifth spot in the points table. They registered a brilliant win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their last game and would be keen to carry on that confidence.
They will be facing a tough challenge tonight against CSK, who will be coming into the clash on the back of two losses. One of the major reasons why SRH lost three games has been their bowling. While batters have played their part, bowlers have failed to defend big totals.
This had made fans as well as team miss regular skipper Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the initial games of the tournament. With Cummins’ missing first five games, the question has been “Will he play against CSK?”
Will Pat Cummins play tonight in SRH vs CSK clash 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.
With him still awaiting clearance, this means that he is likely to miss the match against CSK. Cummins recently posted pictures with his family on Instagram, where he wrote that he will be heading back to India soon. There are chances that he might join the squad after tonight’s game.
Why is Pat Cummins not playing IPL 2026?
Pat Cummins is still recovering from a back injury, which is why he is not playing.
Who is captaining SRH in IPL 2026?
Ishan Kishan is captaining SRH in the IPL 2026.
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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.