Pat Cummins cleared by Cricket Australia for IPL return; SRH captain set to play against RR

MUMBAI: Sunrisers Hyderabad have received a boost after their 57-run win over Rajasthan Royals, with captain Pat Cummins set to rejoin the squad after recovering from a back injury.

On Thursday, a report on the Cricket Australia website mentioned, "Fresh scans on his back have cleared the way for Pat Cummins to return to action at the IPL. Cummins has been given the all-clear to resume bowling without restrictions following fresh scans on his back in Sydney, paving the way for his return to action at the IPL."

Cummins' latest set of scans on Wednesday confirmed the back stress issue that limited him to a single match of professional cricket since last August has now resolved.

"The Aussie pace spearhead will now return to India on Friday to link up with his Australia teammate Travis Head at the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise for the remainder of this year's IPL. Cummins' latest set of scans on Wednesday confirmed the back stress issue that limited him to a single match of professional cricket since last August has now resolved."

Cummins is expected to rejoin the team in the next few days but will not play immediately. The seasoned fast bowler will turn out for SRH against the Rajasthan Royals on April 25. "While Sunrisers will play home matches against Chennai Super Kings this weekend and against the Delhi Capitals next Wednesday, Cummins' cautious approach to returning has him targeting the April 25 match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur for his return to the playing XI," the CA report mentions.

Cummins is expected to take over captaincy duties at SRH from India's keeper-bat Ishan Kishan, who has led the side so far in the absence of Cummins. The Hyderabad-based side is currently in fourth place in the IPL points table, with 2 wins.

Cummins' return is on track with his carefully managed plan to play the second half of the IPL, which may include the playoffs, ahead of a hectic period of Test cricket for Australia, which could see them play up to as many as 21 Tests in the next one year.

Australia's assistant coach Dan Vettori, who is also the SRH head coach, had recently hailed the 32-year-old Cummins' fitness as "exceptional." "His fitness has been exceptional because he's obviously been out of the game for an extended period of time so he's had that time to work on that fitness, a real block of work around strength and conditioning. It's obviously a bit of a painstaking process to get the loads up to where he feels confident and strong about bowling," Vetori had said.

Cummins had arrived in India on March 27, a day before Sunrisers Hyderabad's first match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and returned to Australia after their second game against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 2.