Pat Cummins’ IPL 2026 campaign has not started yet — and his absence is now stretching well beyond what SRH had originally planned for.

Why Cummins Flew Back

The scan Cummins has gone back for is not an emergency response — it is a scheduled, pre-planned procedure that forms part of his structured return-to-play protocol. ESPNcricinfo reported that Cricket Australia is supervising the process, and that Cummins will only be cleared to return to India once the scan results confirm his back has healed sufficiently for full bowling loads.

The 32-year-old has barely played any cricket since July 2025. He featured in just a single Ashes Test match — in Adelaide — after managing a lumbar bone stress injury that had already ruled him out of the T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, he had signalled his awareness that the IPL start would not wait for him.

“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets. The IPL is starting soon. I won’t make the start of that, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there playing.”

He flew out of Kolkata on the evening of April 2, directly after SRH’s victory over KKR at Eden Gardens, and is expected to return on approximately April 17 — subject to receiving the green light from CA. That means he will miss at least four SRH matches before potentially resuming his captaincy role.

SRH Are Doing Just Fine Without Him

The good news for SRH — and indeed for Cummins — is that the side has handled his absence with impressive composure. In the opening game, SRH suffered a six-wicket defeat against defending champions RCB at Chinnaswamy. But in Match 6, they came roaring back at Eden Gardens against KKR — posting 226 for 8 and bowling KKR out for 161, winning by 65 runs.

Heinrich Klaasen struck a fluent half-century with the bat, and Nitish Kumar Reddy produced a genuine all-round display — scoring runs and then leading the bowling attack alongside Jaydev Unadkat, who took two wickets. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s explosive opening stand once again gave SRH the platform they needed.

Ishan Kishan, leading the side in Cummins’ absence, was candid in his post-match assessment.

> “Not happy with the way I played but the boys delivered.”

SRH face Lucknow Super Giants at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 5 — their first home game of the season. The homecoming also happens to be a chance to go two wins from three and establish themselves as early contenders while their captain completes his rehabilitation 6,000 kilometres away.