SRH coach Daniel Vettori shares a major update on Pat Cummins’ return, confirming when the skipper is likely to make his IPL 2026 comeback.
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins during a training session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Pat Cummins is set to rejoin the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad on Friday evening ahead of their IPL 2026 clash against Chennai Super Kings but is likely to return to action only on April 25 against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
Head coach Daniel Vettori confirmed the development, stating that the Australian skipper is on his way back after clearing a fitness test.
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“He’s flying today, so he will be with us this evening. The plan is for the 25th,” Vettori said on the eve of the CSK clash.
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Cummins, who has been recovering from a lumbar stress injury, had initially joined the squad on March 27 ahead of their opening game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He travelled with the team for their next fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders before returning to Australia for further assessment.
In his absence, SRH’s pace unit has stepped up impressively. Debutant quicks Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain starred with four-wicket hauls against Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium earlier this week.
Vettori praised the young pacers but hinted that tactical changes could still be on the cards depending on conditions.
“We’re very satisfied with how the bowling group performed, but we’ll reassess conditions. We’re playing on the same wicket, and with the heat in Hyderabad, it might behave differently. Any changes will be tactical.”
He particularly highlighted the impact made by the inexperienced duo against a strong RR top order.
“Nine for five, that’s what impressed me the most. Against players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who’ve been so successful, to show that kind of confidence and stick to plans was outstanding.”
The former New Zealand captain also backed SRH’s aggressive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, urging patience despite inconsistent returns.
“It’s unrealistic to expect that approach to come off every time. But when those two fire, we usually win. We want them to keep that freedom—it’s one of the most dangerous partnerships in the competition.”
With Cummins’ return on the horizon and the bowling unit finding form, SRH will look to build momentum as the tournament progresses.
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