Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins is set to return to India by April 17th to rejoin the team for the ongoing Indian Premier League after completing a fitness assessment in Australia. Cummins, who leads both Australia and SRH, will undergo the test on Wednesday, with a potential comeback for the franchise pending his clearance.
Dealing with a back injury since last July, Cummins missed the T20 World Cup and only featured in a single Ashes Test in December. His absence has been a concern for both the national and franchise teams due to his vital role in the pace attack and leadership responsibilities.
According to a Cricbuzz report, Cummins is expected to pass the fitness test and receive Cricket Australia’s approval to play for SRH. The report stated, “Cummins, Australia’s captain, will undergo a fitness evaluation in his home country on Wednesday, and if cleared—there is a sense of optimism within the franchise—he could potentially start playing for them. Cummins is slated to rejoin Hyderabad on April 17, just in time for their next match on April 18.”
Initially joining the squad on March 27 before their IPL opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Cummins returned home on April 4 after SRH’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders for final medical scans.
Ahead of the season, Cummins expressed his desire to participate in the latter part of the IPL if his recovery progresses as planned. He stated, “I’m back to bowling regularly, following a structured plan to ensure I’m fit by the middle of the tournament. If all goes well, I hope to play in the latter half and potentially the final.”
The news of Cummins’ impending return provides a significant boost to the franchise, which recently witnessed impressive performances from domestic talents Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain. The duo shone in SRH’s 57-run victory over league leaders Rajasthan Royals, with each claiming four wickets.
Hinge, in particular, made an impact by taking three wickets in his first over, including the crucial dismissal of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck. Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old sensation in the IPL, has drawn attention for his confident displays against experienced fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood.
Cummins’ return is anticipated to strengthen SRH’s pace attack, addressing their struggles in defending totals against strong batting line-ups.