Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has received significant news as regular captain Pat Cummins has been cleared to play by Cricket Australia. Following a successful fitness test and encouraging scan results, Cummins can now resume his playing duties without any restrictions. Since August 2025, Cummins, the Australian Test captain, has participated in only one professional match, the third Ashes Test against England, and is eager to return to the field.
Cummins is set to join the SRH squad prior to their matchup against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday. However, he is aiming for a full return in the game against Rajasthan Royals on April 25 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This plan means Cummins will miss both the upcoming match against CSK and the clash against Delhi Capitals on April 21.
With his return, Cummins is expected to reclaim the leadership role from Ishan Kishan, who filled in as captain during Cummins’s absence. Although Cummins has regained full fitness, he will need to manage his workload carefully, as a packed international schedule looms ahead, potentially involving Australia in 21 Test matches within a 12-month period.
Recently, Cummins conveyed his ambition to participate across all formats of the game. “Still very keen to play all three formats and at the moment I think we can make it work. I love Test cricket. Hopefully I’m in a cadence where I can keep doing that for three, four, five years and don’t have to forgo Test cricket,” he stated during an interview for the Business of Sport podcast in late March.
In other news, Mumbai Indians have announced the signing of Krish Bhagat as an injury replacement for Atharva Ankolekar for the remainder of the IPL 2026 season. Bhagat, a right-arm pacer capable of contributing in the batting order, has previously represented Punjab in seven first-class and nine List A matches. He was already part of the Mumbai Indians squad as a net bowler this season.
