Pat Cummins has confirmed a “minor setback” in his back injury recovery ended his hopes of participating in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Australian Test and ODI captain has been replaced by Ben Dwarshuis in the squad for the tournament co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
Cummins, who hasn’t played since Australia’s Ashes-clinching victory in Adelaide, revealed he “ran out of time” to achieve match fitness. The 32-year-old is targeting a return for the Indian Premier League starting March 26, where he captains Sunrisers Hyderabad.
His decision to prioritize long-term fitness stems from Australia’s unprecedented 18-month schedule beginning August 2026, which includes Test tours of South Africa and India, the Ashes, an ODI World Cup, and a potential World Test Championship final.
Pat Cummins T20 Cricket Stats
| Format | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 57 | 1254 | 1556 | 66 | 3/15 | 23.57 | 7.44 | 19.00 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 171 | 3826 | 5248 | 192 | 4/16 | 27.33 | 8.23 | 19.93 | 3 | 0 |
Cummins Prioritizes Long-Term Fitness Over T20 World Cup
Pat Cummins’ withdrawal from the T20 World Cup reflects a calculated decision to ensure his availability for Australia’s monster 2027 schedule. The pace spearhead has battled back issues since Australia’s Caribbean tour in July 2024, with ongoing complications forcing conservative management.
“We knew after the Adelaide Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up,” Cummins explained. Initial optimism about a four-week recovery timeline proved premature when follow-up scans revealed additional healing time was necessary.
The star quick emphasized that he did not want to be “chasing his tail” during the grueling period ahead, which includes five Tests in India, the historic 150th-anniversary pink-ball Test against England at the MCG, an away Ashes series, and the 50-over World Cup.
“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up,” Cummins stated, mindful of the back troubles that plagued his early career.
IPL Return On Cards for Sunrisers Hyderabad Captain
Despite missing the T20 World Cup, Cummins remains hopeful of leading Sunrisers Hyderabad when the IPL commences on March 26. The shorter format’s reduced physical demands make the tournament a realistic target for his comeback.
“T20s are a little bit easier to get up for than Tests, that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup,” the Australian skipper noted. His return timeline depends on upcoming scans and a gradual build-up to match fitness.
Australia’s World Cup preparations suffered a blow with their recent 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan. Cummins, however, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness, citing strong Big Bash performances and returning players as positive indicators despite the setback.
