IPL 2026: Pat Cummins returns home but Sunrisers upbeat

HYDERABAD: Riding high on a 65-run victory over KKR, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be brimming with confidence in their first home game — an afternoon clash against Lucknow Super Giants — here on Sunday. Sunrisers began their campaign with a loss to defending champions RCB despite posting 201/9 in the season opener, largely due to the disappointing performance of their bowling unit.

However, everything fell in place for the 2016 champions against KKR. After piling up 226/8 — the highest team total so far this season — SRH bowlers did well despite missing Pat Cummins, who has returned home for a final scan on his back injury. He is likely to rejoin the team on April 17 subject to clearance from Cricket Australia (CA). In the interim, Cummins, who has been out of action since last July, will be monitored by CA’s medical team .

SRH coach Daniel Vettori was optimistic of Cummins’ return. “As part of his schedule, he has to have a scan just to clear everything off on April 15.

All is going well because he’s trained with us and he’s looked really good. He’ll rejoin the team and have a slow build-up to hopefully play in a game in the back end of April,” Vettori said.