Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins, also Australia’s Test captain, is weighing up whether he will be absent from next year’s Indian Premier League because of a demanding run of international cricket. Hyderabad’s campaign ended with a defeat in the IPL 2026 Eliminator, finishing the season as the fourth-ranked side after their exit at the hands of Rajasthan Royals.
Quick facts
- SRH, led by Pat Cummins, finished fourth in IPL 2026.
- Hyderabad were eliminated in the IPL 2026 Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals.
- Cummins’ next Australia Test assignment is against Bangladesh in August.
- Cummins suggested the balance between formats may force changes next year.
- Workload management is a key topic involving Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
- The Australian fast-bowling group could be rotated during the four-Test series versus New Zealand in December and January.
With Australia set to play Bangladesh in a Test series in August, Cummins indicated that the schedule may require difficult decisions. He said that “something has got to give” during the coming year, pointing out that it is unlikely to be Tests or the ODI World Cup that make way.
Speaking on planning, Cummins said he would only finalise his availability closer to the time and would work with the franchise to decide what best fits. He added that a couple of injuries have surfaced, which is another reason he does not want to lock himself into anything too early, noting that circumstances can shift.
For Cummins, the priorities remain clear: the Test matches and the ODI World Cup. He suggested that if he were to play throughout the tour of India, he would likely need a break before a tough Ashes sequence, given the intensity of back-to-back high-stakes contests.
Fast-bowler rotation in focus
The workload of Australia’s pace core—Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood—has become a central talking point. The discussion includes the possibility of alternating rest options across the four-Test series against New Zealand, scheduled for December and January.
Cummins said such an approach is feasible, describing the group as open-minded to adjustments based on what has been seen over the last couple of years. He also stressed that whether a Test is at home or away does not change the fundamental nature of the workload challenge; a Test is still a Test.
He added that Australia will likely require more than just three frontline fast bowlers over a long stretch, implying that management plans may involve bringing additional options into the mix. Cummins also described a potential scenario where bowlers could be wound down toward the end of an Indian tour—if they are not set to feature—so they can arrive fresher ahead of the Ashes.
While acknowledging the scale of the next phase, Cummins said he has played only one Test in the past 12 months. That leaves him feeling comparatively fresher than some of his teammates, though he underlined that the upcoming stretch will still be a major push.
Looking ahead, Cummins framed the next 18 months as a demanding but worthwhile period, expressing hope that, in hindsight, it will stand out as one of the most rewarding stretches of his career.
