Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori provided positive news about the wellness of their regular skipper Pat Cummins and stated that the Australian pacer would be able to resume playing in the next fortnight in the Indian Premier League 2026. Cummins, who has been on the sidelines with a lumbar stress injury, has already made a big stride in his healing process by returning to the team training in Bengaluru earlier in the week.
The absence of the fast bowler is significant for Hyderabad, as he has been out of competitive cricket since the Adelaide Test against England last year. Vettori, however, stressed that the long break has enabled Cummins to pay excessive attention to his fitness.
The former New Zealand captain has claimed that the pacer underwent a hard block of strength and conditioning work, making him extremely physically fit. The only challenge now, Vettori told himself, is to build up his bowling workload, bit by bit, up to match-day intensity. A more definite schedule of his comeback should be known in the next 10-12 days.
Leadership boost and squad confidence in Pat Cummins’ absence
Although the inaccessibility of Cummins is an issue, Vettori was confident in the depth and the balance of the squad. He admitted the importance of losing a captain and one of the premier fast bowlers, but insisted that the team has players who can temporarily take up the roles. The emphasis, he said, will be on effective management of resources until Cummins can be fully fit to be back.
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Vettori was also highly supportive of Ishan Kishan, who will be taking a leadership role in the initial stages of the season. The coach disclosed that Kishan is incredibly excited by the responsibility, and he is ready to be at the front line. Sidelined, though, Cummins still remains part of the squad where he provides advice and support on the sidelines.
They will begin their IPL 2026 campaign with Hyderabad playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru on March 28. The team will be keen to start the season well after it came very close to beating the playoffs last season. Having a balanced team and with encouraging news on the recovery of their skipper, the Sunrisers will aim at making a good start and remain competitive until Cummins joins them in the field.
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