Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad face an early setback as Pat Cummins and Jack Edwards are ruled out of IPL 2026, dealing a major blow to their campaign.
Cummins has not played since the third Ashes Test in Adelaide in December 2025. A lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back has kept him out. As a result, he also missed the remaining Ashes matches and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
In his absence, Ishan Kishan will lead the side this season. The franchise confirmed his role as captain ahead of the opener.
Edwards, signed for Rs 3 crore in the last auction, will miss the entire season. He suffered a foot injury before the tournament. Notably, he was set to make his IPL debut this year. He was also the only uncapped overseas player picked in the 2025 auction.
SRH Injury Crisis Deepens Ahead of Season Opener
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc, now with Delhi Capitals, will also miss the start of IPL 2026. He played all five Ashes Tests and part of the Big Bash League. However, Cricket Australia is managing his workload carefully.
SRH will begin their campaign on March 28 in Bengaluru. They face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opener. The team now enters the match with limited bowling options.
Additionally, Josh Hazlewood is likely to miss the early matches. He continues recovery from hamstring and Achilles issues. His return depends on fitness clearance in the coming weeks.
Cricket Australia has adopted a cautious approach with its fast bowlers. The Test team is scheduled to play up to 21 matches in the next year. These include major tours of South Africa, India, and England.
Chennai Super Kings have also suffered a setback. Pacer Nathan Ellis is set to miss the tournament. He failed to recover from a recurring hamstring injury. Franchise CEO KS Viswanathan confirmed the development on March 19.
The availability of several key players will depend on recovery timelines. Teams are closely monitoring fitness updates ahead of the tournament.
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