New Delhi: Pat Cummins’ greatness with the new ball often steals the spotlight, but his impact as a captain has been just as transformative. In the IPL, where even a total around 264 can still fall short, SRH’s brand of high-pressure, no-compromise cricket has helped reshape what “winning” looks like. Cummins’ leadership and his pace-bowling identity are tightly linked—because the way he commands games is built on how he attacks them.
Quick facts
- Cummins says IPL captaincy and fast-bowling mindset are closely connected.
- He points to IPL 2024 as a key moment in setting SRH’s tone under his leadership.
- In 2025, SRH faced a difficult campaign, but they are back in the playoffs this season.
- Cummins joined the 2026 campaign midway after returning from a stress injury.
- He credits Ishan Kishan’s interim captaincy for keeping SRH’s “take-no-prisoners” approach consistent.
- Cummins discusses T20’s “new reality” of aggressive batting and limited bowling options.
- He explains workload management across formats, citing the need to prevent long injury spells.
- He mentions training routines during breaks and reacted with “wow” to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s hitting.
- On bowlers as captains, he believes leadership is naturally suited to those who understand match dynamics.
Speaking about his captaincy style and the current SRH environment, Cummins described a season that’s different from the start. He joined the group partway through after recovering from a stress injury, yet he says the energy was already high and the momentum felt ready to be continued. With the squad contributing strongly throughout, he believes the transition has looked seamless to supporters and teammates alike.
Cummins also revealed that when he arrived, Ishan Kishan had been steering the ship effectively. He said Kishan is excellent around the group and that—during the early phase—Cummins largely stayed out of the way for the first seven games. He added that Daniel Vettori and the broader coaching staff have helped keep the process smooth, whether Kishan is captain or Cummins takes the role.
Adapting to T20’s “new reality”
In recent seasons, Cummins and SRH have often been seen as drivers of the evolution in T20 batting and tempo. When asked how hard it was to push that mindset into the dressing room, he argued it actually fits T20 naturally. With ten sides chasing the same prize, he said average simply doesn’t get you through—teams must find a style that sets them apart.
He singled out batters such as Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan, stressing that they shouldn’t be forced into narrow templates. The goal, he said, is to let players express themselves at full speed rather than boxing them into predictable roles.
Cummins’ own approach, he explained, is often about getting out of the way and allowing those strengths to show. He believes the modern game offers fewer “tools” for bowlers than before, with cutters typically not gripping the way they used to, and with less swing and bounce. As a result, balance has tilted, and the challenge for bowlers is to defend themselves within the realities of current pitches and scoring patterns.
He doesn’t see the situation as completely new, though. Instead, he believes batters have become more willing to take risks and have started to believe they can score faster than they previously thought. For bowlers, that shift means constant adjustment—especially in overs that might look routine on paper but can become crucial in the second stage of an innings.
Asked how he prepares when facing an explosive batter like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi—who is described as taking on bowlers immediately—Cummins said the key is keeping everyone alert. He explained that when you expect a particular plan, a player can come out and try to clear the boundary on every delivery, turning the challenge into something fun yet demanding. His mindset is to treat the moment as a problem to solve: if something different is thrown at him, he tries to work out the counter.
He also pointed to a wider trend where players are being rested more often than earlier generations. The reason, he said, is largely the need to avoid major injuries that can keep athletes out for a long stretch—especially injuries that can last around a year.
Cummins added that the trend of not mastering every format is growing, and it isn’t only about batters. He referenced a short list of players who are still among the most active across formats, mentioning himself, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada. He also suggested that while teams may rest players differently, it doesn’t necessarily mean cricketing schedules will become completely isolated by format with no repetition of players.
Before his recent injury, Cummins said he had been playing a lot over the previous five years and bowling high volumes of deliveries. Even then, he noted that he still had spells of rest built into his schedule. Looking ahead, he referenced the following year’s ODI World Cup and said he expects to play more ODIs in that cycle—just as the number of T20 matches in the year would also rise compared to his immediate past.
Switching gears between formats
When discussing how challenging it is to move between formats—particularly from the physical demands of Test cricket into the intensity of the IPL—Cummins described how he and his team manage readiness. He said that for Tests, they try to carve out time before or after matches to ensure they are ready for the demands of Test cricket, while also building in recovery. In his view, Tests are among the easiest transitions to adapt to.
For T20s, he said the adjustment is more mental. He believes he has played enough in the recent period that he can switch on and focus on his style once the shorter format begins. The emphasis, he suggested, is knowing what your game plan is and applying it quickly rather than treating each T20 as a completely different sport.
On managing the toll on both body and mind during long stretches, he described discipline rather than downtime. Even when there is a break, he said they aren’t truly on holiday; instead, they return home and work through routines like gym sessions every couple of days. The aim is to strengthen and be prepared so the body arrives fresh when Test cricket comes again.
Cummins then returned to a specific moment from the competition. He said he was “wow”-impressed after watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi go after bowling relentlessly. When asked about the last time he went “wow” in an IPL or cricket match—catching him by surprise—he again pointed to Sooryavanshi’s hitting, especially when the batter attacked him.
He also spoke about his leadership record with Australia and whether bowlers naturally make good captains. Cummins replied that fast bowlers are often among the smartest tactical thinkers, so it makes sense, but he believes leadership can suit anyone regardless of their primary role. Whether you are a bowler, a keeper, or someone else, he argued that the position you play shouldn’t limit your ability to captain.
He added a practical insight from his own preparation: when he talks about his bowling and his match plans, he often gravitates toward other bowlers because they offer strong perspective on how they see the game. That, he believes, supports the idea that it can be a natural fit for bowlers to take leadership responsibilities.
Family, routine and travelling
With a young family and constant travel, Cummins was asked how important routine and balance are in day-to-day life. He said that is the hardest part of this lifestyle. Over the last 12 months, time at home has increased due to injuries, but the family then came to India with him, and he described how their four-year-old has visited roughly 20 countries.
He said the process makes people skilled at packing—different bags, different toys—but that the experience is still enjoyable even though it can be demanding. Despite the hectic nature of schedules, he emphasised that you always find a way to return home and build lasting memories.
As SRH continue their push in the competition, Cummins’ message is clear: the modern IPL rewards aggression, adaptability and smart management of resources. Whether it’s defending overs in high-stakes moments or guiding a team through a mid-season captaincy change, he believes the best captains combine tactical clarity with the instinct to attack—just like his fast bowling does.
