New Delhi: Australia captain Pat Cummins has provided an encouraging update on his recovery from a back injury, revealing that he is targeting a return midway through the IPL 2026 season while backing Ishan Kishan to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in his absence.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Speaking on the Sports Business Podcast, Cummins confirmed that he has returned to bowling and is making steady progress under a structured rehabilitation programme. “I’m still recovering from my back injury, but that’s good. I’m back on the tennis court and bowling,” he said, signaling a return to competitive action.The SRH captain admitted that he will miss the first phase of the game but remains optimistic about making a timely comeback. “IPL is about to start. I won’t start but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back in action,” he added in the episode, which was reportedly shot last week.Cummins outlined a cautious approach to his recovery and revealed that he is currently bowling every three days. “I’m back bowling again. Now I’m basically bowling every three days. We’ve got a plan in place to get me back in the middle of the game, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, I’ll be in the second half and the final,” he said.Earlier, injuries ruled him out of the T20 World Cup and restricted him to just one Test during the Ashes. After suffering some minor setbacks during his recovery, Cummins is now focused on ensuring he is fully fit for business in the IPL.
Cummins backs Ishan Kishan as SRH captain
In his absence, Sunrisers Hyderabad has entrusted the captaincy to wicketkeeper-batsman Kishan, a move that Cummins strongly supports. “Ishan has been very successful as captain of the local team over the last year or so,” Cummins said of Kishan’s leadership role in Jharkhand.Cummins also emphasized the importance of local players in bridging the communication gap within a diverse squad. “We have an experienced local bowling group…I absolutely rely on local people who are familiar with them and even speak the local language,” he explained.Sunrisers Hyderabad, who last won the IPL in 2016, will start their campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday looking to stay competitive before their regular captain returns for the decisive period.
