Pat Cummins Targets IPL Return After Missing T20 World Cup

Australia captain Pat Cummins has withdrawn from the T20 World Cup and is planning an IPL RETURN to regain fitness after a back injury.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has turned his focus forward after pulling out of the ICC T20 World Cup due to a back injury. The fast bowler admitted he ran out of time to regain match fitness. Pat Cummins now plans a return through the IPL to manage his workload.

Cummins has played only one match since last July. That appearance came in the Ashes-clinching Test in Adelaide. Initial estimates suggested a four-week recovery. Later scans extended healing closer to eight weeks.

Pat Cummins explained his decision to avoid rushing back from a back injury, keeping long-term fitness as the priority. With a heavy international schedule starting August 2026, the fast bowler chose caution over short-term risk. Australia is set to play Tests against Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand, followed by a five-Test tour of India, an away Ashes, the ODI World Cup and a possible World Test Championship final.

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“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. We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing tail a bit. We’ll just be guided by my back. We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up. 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,” Cummins added.

Further scans are planned in the coming weeks. His absence is a setback for Australia for the upcoming World Cup. Ben Dwarshuis replaces him in the squad.