IPL 2025: Boost For Sunrisers Hyderabad as Skipper Pat Cummins Provides Fitness Update & Possible Return Date

Sunrisers Hyderabad recieved a timely boost ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League - IPL 2025 after injured skipper Pat Cummins provided his fitness update and a potential timeline on his return to action.

SRH was sweating on the availability of their captain Cummins, who has been ruled out of action since January, missing Australia's Test tour to Sri Lanka and the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025.

Sunrisers had retained the Australia Test and ODI captain for Rs 18 Crore ahead of the auction following the franchise's final run in 2024. But the Hyderabad-based side felt a slight blow after learning the news of Cummins missing Australia's assignments in the lead up to the IPL.

However, the Australian pacer evaded any concerns of his availability for SRH during the IPL 2025, saying he is aiming to return for the tournament and eyes Australia return in time for the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June.

"It's four overs in T20s. So physically it's quite a nice build up for the World Test Championship final, and then the Test matches after that. That's the aim at this stage - start bowling over the next week or so, building up, and should be right for IPL," Cummins said on Amazn Prime Video as quoted by cricket.com.au.

"It's probably just making sure you're still bowling quite a few balls (during the IPL). The good thing about a T20 tournament is the intensity is really high, so that obviously helps quite a bit. But maybe the back half the tournament, you bowl a few extra balls in warm-ups and nets, just to make sure your body's used to bowling quite a bit."

Although he has resumed running and hopes to be back in time for IPL, Cummins hasn't revealed if he will be available from the start of the tournament, which gets underway on March 22 with SRH opening their campaign at home against Rajasthan Royals on March 23.

"The ankle is starting to come good. It's a funny one - it's not like a hamstring where you need six weeks (to recover). It's one of those ones where it really just needs a bit (more) rest to settle down. I've been doing loads of rehab in the gym and trying to build back up slowly," Cummins added.

"Especially for a fast bowler, you've got to kind of step towards things. Once you have a bit of time off, you've got to start running again, and then you got to start bowling, and start building up. So we just ran out of time for Pakistan.

"It's not necessarily a new (injury), it's not anything that's going to be long-term, but it's just one of those ones you've got to manage. A bit of a break now, hopefully it sets it up for the next year or so."