Australia ODI and Test captain and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins has left the IPL 2026 mid-way and has gone back home to Australia. Cummins has been out of action since July 2025, with only one Ashes Test appearance in between.

As per the ESPNCricinfo report, Pat Cummins has flown back home to have a final scan on his injured back. The scan was pre-scheduled and will be conducted under the supervision of Cricket Australia. Cummins left India after SRH defeated KKR in Kolkata on Thursday. He is expected to rejoin the squad on April 17 if cleared by CA.

This is along expected lines, since Cummins had said before IPL 2026 that "if nothing goes wrong, [I'll] play the back half [of the IPL] plus the finals [if SRH get there]".

Since joining the SRH camp before their first match of the IPL 2026 competition, Cummins had been bowling during training sessions.  The SRH squad will continue to be led by Ishan Kishan, who was named interim captain by SRH after it became apparent that Cummins would not be able to play in the early stages of IPL 2026.

Cummins' sole competitive appearance since he began experiencing back pain in July of last year was the third Ashes Test in December. A "minor setback" in his recuperation prevented him from participating in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, despite his initial hopes.

"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. I'm back bowling. I'm bowling basically every third day at the moment. We've mapped out a plan to get me right by [the] middle of the tournament,” Cummins had told the Business of Sports podcast.

SRH will next play LSG on Sunday in a day game.

(ESPNCricinfo report)