Kavya Maran’s injury blow for SRH: How many matches will Pat Cummins miss in IPL 2026? | Read
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) IPL 2026 The campaign was hit by an early setback, as Captain pat cummins Will miss the initial stages of the tournament due to injury.
How many matches will SRH captain Pat Cummins miss in IPL 2026?
Although the franchise has not officially confirmed the number of matches, reports suggest the Australian fast bowler may miss the first three matches as he is recovering from an old back problem.
SRH For, this is a significant blow. Cummins plays a central role in the team’s plans – not just as a strike bowler, but also as a leader. His absence in the early matches means the team will have to adapt quickly, both in terms of bowling strategy and leadership on the field.
Cummins has not played competitive cricket since December 2025, and his recovery process is still ongoing. Although Cricket Australia has cleared him to participate in the IPL, he is not match-ready yet. He is expected to join the SRH squad on March 23, where he will continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of the franchise’s medical team.
As per the current situation, Cummins is likely to miss three important matches:
- Season opening match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 28 in Bengaluru
- Away clash against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on 2 April
- Home match against Lucknow Super Giants in Hyderabad on 5th April
These are crucial opening matches that often set the tone for the entire campaign, making their absence all the more impressive.
Ishan Kishan to become captain as SRH restructures leadership group
Due to Cummins’s unavailability, the Kavya Maran-owned franchise wasted no time in reorganizing its leadership setup. In a bold move, the franchise has handed over the captaincy to Ishan Kishan for the inaugural phase of the tournament, which is an opportunity for him to become captain for the first time in the IPL.
Kishan’s appointment reflects the team’s confidence in his leadership abilities. He recently led Jharkhand to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and was also the top run-scorer of the tournament, displaying form and composure under pressure.
He is supported as vice-captain by Abhishek Sharma, who is one of the most exciting T20 talents in the game currently. Abhishek, ranked as the world No. 1 T20I batsman, has been in great form and brings energy and aggression to the leadership group. Both Kishan and Abhishek were key members of India’s recent T20 World Cup-winning team, which adds further credibility to their roles.
The franchise confirmed the decision in a statement: “Pat Cummins will miss a few matches while he recovers from injury. Until he recovers, Ishan Kishan will be the captain and Abhishek Sharma will be the vice-captain.”
From a strength point of view, SRH will now have to rework their bowling plans in the absence of Cummins. His ability to provide breakthroughs with the new ball and control the game in pressure situations is hard to replace. The team will probably rely more on its existing fast bowlers and all-rounders to fill the gap.
For Sunrisers and owner Kavya Maran, the focus will be to remain competitive until their captain is fully fit. If they can successfully overcome these initial hurdles, Cummins’ return could provide a big boost later in the season.
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