Vettori sheds light on painstaking process as Pat Cummins awaits clearance from Cricket Australia to play in IPL 2026

Vettori provided an update on Pat Cummins’ fitness, detailing the careful process the Australian pacer is undergoing to return to full match readiness.

Updated on: Mar 28, 2026, 06:11:17 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

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Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori expressed confidence that Pat Cummins will return to lead the side once he regains full fitness, though the Australian pacer will miss the opening matches of IPL 2026. Cummins, who missed the T20 World Cup due to a back injury, has already arrived in India but is yet to receive a fitness clearance to feature in the tournament. Vettori expects him to be available within the next 10 to 12 days, adding that the team is monitoring his recovery closely.

Pat Cummins will be missing the initial phase of IPL 2026. (X Image/@SunRisers)

In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan will take charge as captain when SRH begin their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season opener on Saturday at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, marking a key early test for the young wicketkeeper-batter’s leadership skills.

Vettori provided an update on Cummins’ fitness, detailing the careful process the Australian pacer is undergoing to return to full match readiness. He highlighted the focus on strength and conditioning, while noting the gradual buildup of bowling workload as a key step before Cummins can rejoin the playing XI.

"His fitness has been exceptional because he's been out of the game for an extended period of time, so, he's had that time to work on that fitness, a real block of work around strength and conditioning. The only challenge for him was the bowling loads.

"So once he got the all clear from Cricket Australia to build those bowling loads, it's obviously a bit of a painstaking process to get the lungs up to where he feels confident and strong about bowling. Hopefully, we can get a definitive timeline, probably in the next 10-12 days around when he can return to play," he added.

“Ishan Kishan incredibly excited about captaincy”

Vettori acknowledged the challenge of missing Cummins, both as captain and key fast bowler, at the start of the season. He expressed confidence in the team’s replacements and praised Ishan Kishan’s enthusiasm in leading the side, while noting that Cummins will continue to provide guidance until he returns to play.

"It's always a challenge when you take out that integral part of your team's captain and fast bowler but I think we've got suitable replacements and I know Ishan is incredibly excited about the captain of the team and we can lean on Pat the whole time until he's actually able to play," he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

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