Sunrisers Hyderabad have been handed a significant timely lift after their 57-run triumph over the Rajasthan Royals, with captain Pat Cummins poised to come back into the group once he completes his recovery from a back issue. The fast-bowling leader is expected to return after fresh medical clearance, giving SRH another major boost as the tournament moves deeper into its schedule.
A Cricket Australia update noted that new scans on Cummins’ back have removed the earlier concerns and have cleared the way for him to resume bowling in the IPL. The clearance also comes with permission to return without restrictions after the latest check-ups in Sydney.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cummins underwent another round of scans that confirmed the stress-related problem in his back—an issue that had kept him to only one match of professional cricket since last August. With the condition now resolved, he is set to restart his bowling workload as he targets an IPL return.
The Australian pace spearhead will travel back to India on Friday to join Sunrisers Hyderabad for the remainder of the season, linking up with his Australia teammate Travis Head at the franchise setup. Cummins’ plan, however, is not an immediate return to playing straight away.
SRH are expected to have Cummins back within the next few days, but his first appearance is not anticipated right away. The experienced seamer is scheduled to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Rajasthan Royals on April 25.
The report also highlighted that SRH will take on Chennai Super Kings at home over the weekend and then face Delhi Capitals next Wednesday. Even with those fixtures coming up, Cummins’ cautious approach means his target for a return to the starting XI is the April 25 clash against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
With Cummins away, Ishan Kishan—India’s wicketkeeper-batter—has been captaining the side so far. Cummins is now expected to take over captaincy responsibilities from Kishan once he is fully back within the playing framework.
At present, Sunrisers Hyderabad sit in fourth place in the IPL standings, having collected two wins so far. Cummins’ return is seen as an important step toward strengthening their balance for the later stages of the tournament.
His comeback is also aligned with a carefully managed strategy that focuses on bringing him into action during the second half of the IPL, which could extend to the playoffs. That timing matters even more given the demanding international workload Australia may face in the coming year, with up to 21 Test matches possible.
SRH’s head coach and Australia assistant coach Dan Vettori recently described Cummins’ condition as outstanding. Vettori said Cummins’ fitness has been exceptional, pointing out that time away from cricket had allowed him to build his strength and conditioning. He added that it is a painstaking process to raise bowling loads to a level where the captain feels confident and ready to bowl strongly.
Cummins arrived in India on March 27, one day before Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He then returned to Australia after their second game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 2, before the latest scans paved the way for his IPL comeback.
