Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have received a huge boost ahead of their next IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR). SRH's designated skipper Pat Cummins has officially confirmed his availability for the game against RR, which is set to take place at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 25. His return marks the end of a seven-match absence, during which time Ishan Kishan stepped up to lead the Orange Army in his maiden stint as an IPL captain.
Pat Cummins to feature in RR vs SRH clash
Cummins confirmed the development through social media, posting pictures of himself training at full intensity. Expressing his anticipation for the match, he captioned the post, "Been a long time coming, stinging to get back into it tomorrow," clearly highlighting his eagerness to make his return to the field.
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Cummins has been managing a persistent back injury since last July, an issue that sidelined him from the T20 World Cup and limited his professional appearances to just a single Ashes Test match last December. This prolonged absence had caused significant concern for both the Australian national team and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, as his presence is vital to both the leadership group and the pace attack of the respective teams.
Australian captain initially linked up with the Sunrisers' squad on March 27 ahead of their IPL opener against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, he returned home on April 4, following the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders, to undergo final medical assessments. Having successfully cleared a fitness test in Australia, he is now fully prepared to return to action for the Sunrisers.
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SRH riding on winning momentum
Despite a rocky start to their IPL 2026 campaign, where the 2016 champions dropped three of their first four matches, the Sunrisers have made a strong recovery. They have climbed into the top four with eight points and a net run rate of +0.820, fueled by a winning streak of three consecutive games. They head into their upcoming clash against the Riyan Parag-led Rajasthan Royals with plenty of momentum, fresh off a dominant 47-run victory over the Delhi Capitals that was highlighted by an explosive, unbeaten 135 from Abhishek Sharma.