Pat Cummins himself discloses IPL 2026 return date for SRH, says 'Aiming for 25th vs RR'

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have received a timely boost amidst inconsistent IPL 2026 campaign as their designated captain Pat Cummins has himself disclosed his return date. However, SRH will have to navigate their upcoming fixtures without the leadership of Cummins, as the skipper has confirmed he will miss the highly anticipated clash against Chennai Super Kings on April 18. The veteran Australian pacer also ruled himself out of the following game against the Delhi Capitals on April 21. Cummins revealed the details on April 15 through a direct interaction with a fan on his Instagram account.

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Pat Cummins to feature in RR vs SRH clash

The Hyderabad captain clarified his timeline for a return, stating that he is targeting the April 25 encounter against Rajasthan Royals (RR) to rejoin the playing XI. Cummins stated that he is scheduled to fly back on April 17 to link up with the squad and begin his preparations for the latter half of the IPL 2026.

Aiming for the 25th vs RR: Cummins

Cummins provided further clarity on his return timeline via Instagram, confirming that he is scheduled to fly back this Friday, April 17. He explicitly told fans that he is "aiming for the 25th vs RR," indicating that the clash against the Rajasthan Royals is his intended comeback date. This travel schedule effectively confirms he will be unavailable for the team's immediate upcoming fixtures.

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Cummins is currently focused on rehabilitating a back injury. The premier pacer had earlier temporarily left the IPL 2026 camp to return to Australia for a final medical scan. Cummins has had a limited competitive workload since July of last year—appearing only in a single Ashes Test in Adelaide, and has been following a structured recovery plan that involves a gradual increase in bowling intensity during net sessions.

SRH's inconsistent show in IPL 2026

In his absence, the leadership responsibilities for SRH have fallen to Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who is serving as the stand-in skipper for the 2026 season. Currently, the Hyderabad-based franchise has had a mixed run, securing two wins and three losses from their five matches. Despite the inconsistent results, they sit with four points.