Pat Cummins Eyes Mid-Season IPL Return, Backs Ishan Kishan to Lead Sunrisers Hyderabad

Australian fast bowler and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins has provided a positive update on his rehabilitation from a recent back injury, confirming he has resumed bowling and aims for a mid-season return to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

While Cummins will miss the opening fixtures of the upcoming tournament, he fully endorsed newly acquired wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan to manage the interim captaincy duties.

Rehabilitation and Targeted Return Timeline

Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Cummins detailed his structured recovery protocol. The fast bowler confirmed he is currently bowling every third day to build up his workload safely after medical staff mapped out a conservative timeline.

• Current Status: Resumed bowling in the nets every third day.
• Target Return: Projected to rejoin the starting lineup by the mid-point of the IPL season.
• Primary Goal: Achieve full match fitness for the latter half of the group stage and playoffs.

“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets,” Cummins stated. “The IPL is starting soon. I won’t make the start of that, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there playing.”

The SRH leadership and medical staff have opted for this cautious approach to ensure the Australian captain avoids further setbacks. “We’ve mapped out a plan to get me right by the middle of the tournament, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, I’ll play the back half plus the finals,” Cummins explained.

Ishan Kishan to Step Up as Interim Captain

In Cummins’s absence, SRH will hand the leadership reins to Ishan Kishan. The franchise secured Kishan in the mega auction to bolster their top order and provide a domestic leadership option.

Cummins strongly backed the decision, citing Kishan’s recent domestic cricket experience. “Ishan’s had a really successful captaincy stint with his local side in the last year or so,” Cummins said, referring to Kishan’s tenure leading Jharkhand in BCCI domestic tournaments.

The Australian fast bowler also emphasized the strategic importance of relying on Indian players to maintain clear communication across the squad.

“We’ve got quite an experienced bowling group of local guys. I’m definitely leaning on the local guys who do know them well or even speak the language,” he added.

Pat Cummins: IPL 2024 Performance

Cummins had an immediate impact on Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, leading the franchise to the final before finishing as runners-up to Kolkata Knight Riders. His availability for the latter half of the tournament remains a priority for the SRH management.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will open their upcoming campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team aims to establish a strong position in the points table under Kishan’s interim leadership, setting the stage for Cummins to return for the decisive phase of the season. For extensive player records and historical statistics, fans can review data on ESPNcricinfo.