Australia will have to play the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 without the services of their premier pacer Pat Cummins. Cummins has been ruled out of the tournament because of a back injury. Cricket Australia named Ben Dwarshuis in place of Cummins for the elite tournament.
After being dropped from the T20I squad, the pacer revealed his health and injury status. He informed that the back injury for which he was dropped from the squad is actually not serious enough, and he is feeling good now. The exclusion of Pat Cummins from the T20 World Cup 2026 was a part of Australia’s long-term vision, as the cricket management board valued the bowler highly.
Australia will play the T20 World Cup 2026 without Pat Cummins
In the upcoming T20 World Cup, the Aussies will have to play without Cummins, as well as Mitchell Starc, who already retired from the format. Another experienced pacer, Josh Hazlewood, is in the squad but uncertain for the first few matches of the tournament. Which means the Australian cricket team will have to depend on their remaining pacers in the form of Ben Dwarshuis and Josh Inglis for the pace bowling duties.
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Australia has a long, busy schedule ahead after the conclusion of the World Cup. Apart from national team responsibilities, Pat Cummins is expected to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Like the IPL 2025, the Aussie pacer is named as the leader for the franchise for the IPL 2026, as well.
Cummins can feature in the IPL 2026 for SRH
He said that if things go well, then he will have no issue featuring for the IPL side. He will have another scan in a few weeks. Then the situation will be clearer for him. So far, it is the back issue that is holding Cummins back from his duties. “We’ll just be guided by my back. We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up. T20s are a little bit easier to get up for [than Tests]; that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup,” Pat Cummins said.
The IPL 2026 starts on March 26 this year.
Early setback for Australia without Pat Cummins
With Cummins out of the squad, Australia suffered a heavy defeat against Pakistan, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which has raised a bit of concern. Cummins believes that the setback Australia suffered against Pakistan was mostly because of the busy schedule the players had to go through before the T20I series with Pakistan.
“It wasn’t our greatest few games [in Pakistan], but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys are coming back from injury for the World Cup. Morale is good. Chatting to a few of the boys from afar … they know how big it is; they’re desperate to get started and get into it,” Cummins said.
After the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, Australia will play three ODIs with Pakistan in June and then an all-format series with Bangladesh.
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