Big blow for SRH! Pat Cummins leaves IPL 2027 participation in doubt

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins (ANI Photo) Australia captain Pat Cummins has hinted he may miss IPL 2027 as he considers his workload during what is shaping up to be one of the busiest periods of his career. The Australian team faces a tough calendar next year, starting with a four-Test tour of India before returning home for the historic 150th anniversary Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This will be followed by the highly watched Ashes series and later the ODI World Cup in South Africa. Speaking to Australian newspaper The Age, Cummins admitted sacrifices may be needed to ensure he stays fresh for Australia’s biggest international assignments. While no decision has been made regarding his IPL future, the fast bowler suggested that one area where compromises are necessary could be franchise cricket. “Something has to happen at some stage next year and it’s not going to be Test matches or the ODI World Cup,” Cummins said. “I’ll make a much closer call and work with the franchise to see what makes sense. Things can change. I’ve had a few injuries so I don’t want to close anything,” he added. The Australian captain reiterated that Test cricket and the ODI World Cup remain his main focus. “The priorities for me are always the Test matches and the ODI World Cup. I daresay if I’m going to play all over India, I need a bit of a break before a pretty grueling Ashes series,” Cummins explained. The 33-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent years, including back problems that have disrupted his international commitments at times. As a result, he believes Australia may need to carefully manage the workload of their frontline pace attack, including Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, ahead of the Ashes. “It’s possible. I think we’re pretty open to anything as we’ve seen over the last couple of years. I can see a world where we potentially take some bowlers off, even say at the end of the India series if they don’t look like they’re going to play, to give them another rest before the Ashes,” Cummins said. Despite the busy schedule, Cummins sees the next 18 months as potentially a defining chapter for the current Australian side. “It’s going to be a big shift over the next 18 months, but I think we’ll look back on it with hope and consider it one of the most rewarding periods of our careers,” he said. Cummins missed the first seven matches of IPL 2026 before returning to lead the Sunrisers Hyderabad campaign. Under his leadership, SRH made it to the playoffs while Ishan Kishan deputized as captain during his absence. Hyderabad’s season finally ended in the Eliminator where they were eliminated by Rajasthan Royals.