Pat Cummins has hinted that he may opt out of the 2027 edition of the Indian Premier League, as Australia brace for a relentless international run that includes a Test tour of India, a full Ashes campaign and the ODI World Cup. The Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, who has long been a key figure for the franchise in recent seasons, suggested that something will have to give if his workload continues to stack up in the coming year.
Why the IPL decision is on the table
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Cummins said his focus is on Australia’s longer-format commitments and the World Cup, adding that the schedule next year may not allow room for everything. The 33-year-old, who earns ₹18.00 crore annually as SRH captain, suggested that the calendar may force difficult choices about whether another IPL stint is feasible.
“Something has got to give at some stage next year and it's not going to be test matches or an ODI World Cup,” Cummins said, making it clear that those priorities sit above franchise cricket.
Australia’s packed 2027 international calendar
Australia’s plans for 2027 are set to be demanding from the start, with a sequence of major assignments spanning several continents and formats.
- Four Tests are scheduled in India in January and February.
- A landmark 150th anniversary Test against England is set for Melbourne in March.
- A complete Ashes tour follows after that.
- The ODI World Cup takes place in southern Africa in October and November.
Injuries, workload management and what Cummins says next
Cummins stressed that he will not rush a final call. Instead, he plans to discuss options with Sunrisers Hyderabad closer to the tournament, noting that injuries and shifting circumstances could influence the decision.
“I will make a call a lot closer and work with the franchise to see what makes sense. Things can change. I've had a couple of injuries pop up, so I don't really want to lock in anything,” he said.
His comments also reflect that the workload question is rooted in recent experience. Cummins played only the Adelaide Ashes Test in the last home summer and missed the T20 World Cup while dealing with a back injury, which has led Australia to be cautious with how they manage their senior fast-bowling leaders.
He also indicated that Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc could be handled with rotation during parts of Australia’s home series against New Zealand around the New Year, suggesting a broader approach to preserving fast-bowlers for the most important phases ahead.
- Cummins said Australia could consider winding bowlers down during the back end of an Indian tour if they are not expected to play.
- He suggested the goal would be to provide additional rest ahead of the Ashes.
Tests and World Cup first — and the impact for SRH
When outlining his priorities, Cummins made it clear that national duties would come before franchise commitments once the decision is finalized. He said Australia’s Test matches and ODI World Cup campaign remain his top priorities, and also suggested that a break might be needed before a gruelling Ashes series if he manages to play through the India stretch.
“The priorities for me are always the test matches and that ODI World Cup. I dare say if I play all of India, I need some sort of break before a pretty gruelling Ashes series,” he said.
Cummins also described the upcoming period as a big push, though one that could be memorable for the Australian group. “It's going to be a big push the next 18 months or so, but I think we'll look back on it hopefully and see it as one of the more rewarding periods of our career,” he added.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the uncertainty creates a major question ahead of the next IPL cycle. Cummins has been central to their leadership structure, but Australia’s demanding calendar may now force one of the league’s biggest overseas names to favour rest over another franchise season.
