The "Orange Army" has been hit with a massive blow just days before the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain and premier fast bowler Pat Cummins is reportedly set to miss the initial phase of the tournament as he continues to recover from a persistent back injury.
With the season opener scheduled for March 28 against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) , the absence of their talismanic leader leaves a significant void in both the tactical and bowling departments.
The Injury: What happened to Pat Cummins?
Pat Cummins has been battling a lumbar stress injury in his lower back since mid-2025. The injury forced him to miss the majority of the 2025-26 Ashes series and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
While Cummins made a brief appearance in the Adelaide Test last December, the injury resurfaced, sidelining him from competitive cricket for the last three months. Cricket Australia (CA) is reportedly taking a cautious approach, and the 32-year-old is still awaiting full medical clearance before he can join the SRH camp in India.
Who will lead SRH in his absence?
The biggest question for the SRH management is the leadership. Cummins' "calm under fire" captaincy was a major reason for SRH's resurgence. According to reports from The Times of India and other major outlets, Lotus365 the franchise has identified two primary candidates for the interim role:
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Ishan Kishan: The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is currently the frontrunner. Kishan recently led Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title and is coming off a stellar T20 World Cup campaign where he was one of the top run-scorers.
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Abhishek Sharma: The explosive opening batter has also been discussed. Having spent seven seasons with the franchise, he understands the team culture deeply and recently captained Punjab in domestic cricket.
As of now, Ishan Kishan is widely expected to be named the interim captain for the first fixture fews.
Impact on the Bowling Attack
Losing Cummins is not just a captaincy issue; it's a bowling crisis. Over the last two IPL seasons, Cummins has been a consistent wicket-taker for SRH, picking up 34 wickets .
In his absence, the pace responsibility will fall on:
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Harshal Patel
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Shivam Mavi
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Brydon Carse (Likely overseas replacement in the XI)
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Jaydev Unadkat
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Ehsan Malinga
SRH's Tough Opening Schedule
The timing couldn't be worse for Hyderabad. They face a grueling schedule in the first half of the tournament:
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March 28: vs RCB (Away - M. Chinnaswamy Stadium)
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April 2: vs KKR (Away - Eden Gardens)
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April 5: vs LSG (Home - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium)
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April 11: vs PBKS (Away - Mullanpur)
Facing the defending champions and last year's finalists in the first two games without your primary leader will be the ultimate test for the new-look Sunrisers.
The Silver Lining
While the bowling and leadership face a challenge, the SRH batting remains one of the most fearsome in the league. With Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan in the top order, fans can still expect a "strike-rate-first" approach that could break powerplay records once again.
When will Cummins return? There is no official return date yet, but the management is hopeful that he will be available for the second half of the season once cleared by CA physios.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Orange Army prepares for a dramatic start to IPL 2026!