Pat Cummins has provided an update on his fitness status, offering a timely boost ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026. The Australian captain, who has been sidelined due to a back-related issue, confirmed that his rehabilitation is progressing well and that he has resumed bowling in the nets. His update comes at a crucial time as franchises finalise their plans for the early phase of the tournament.

Context?

Cummins made these remarks during an interaction with Australian media while speaking from Australia as part of his ongoing rehabilitation programme. The statement reflects both confidence and caution, as he emphasised that his recovery is being carefully managed by medical staff to avoid any long-term setbacks. The update has since been widely reported across cricket platforms, indicating that his return is on track but not rushed.

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Pat Cummins resumes bowling in Australia during rehab, shares “Good to be back” update ahead of IPL 2026 comeback bid Instagram

What was his full statement?

Speaking from Australia during a media interaction on his recovery progress, Cummins said -

“It’s been a slow process, but it’s good to be back bowling again. I’ve started building up gradually, bowling every few days. Everything is feeling really good at the moment. If everything continues to go well, I’m hoping to be available for the back end of the IPL, maybe even the finals”, further added

“We’re taking it step by step and not trying to rush anything. The goal is to be fully fit and ready for a long season ahead.”

Instagram story sparks reassurance

Cummins also took to Instagram to share his progress with fans. In his instagram story,he uploaded visuals from his training sessions, including clips of him bowling in the nets and working on his fitness routines.

The caption read -

“Good to be back”

His instagram story quickly gained traction, with fans and fellow cricketers reacting positively to his return to training, seeing it as a strong sign that the pacer is nearing competitive fitness.

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Pat Cummins

IPL 2026 availability and SRH impact

Cummins is expected to miss the initial phase of IPL 2026, which could affect the balance of Sunrisers Hyderabad, particularly in terms of leadership and pace attack. However, his potential return in the latter half of the tournament could significantly strengthen the squad during the business end, including the playoffs. The franchise management is reportedly aligning its strategy with his phased return in mind

While no exact return date has been confirmed, the signs remain encouraging. Cummins’ disciplined rehabilitation, combined with his positive assessment, suggests he could play a decisive role later in the tournament. For now, the focus remains on careful workload management to ensure he returns at full strength.