Pat Cummins Eyes IPL Return Ahead of WTC Final & WI Tour

Aussie Skipper Targets IPL Comeback Before WTC & Caribbean Series

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins is set to make a comeback through the Indian Premier League (IPL) after an ankle injury kept him out of action. The Aussie pacer, who played a crucial role in AUS’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory, is optimistic about regaining peak fitness before the World Test Championship (WTC) final against SA on June 11 at Lord’s. Cummins, who suffered the injury during the final Test against IND in Sydney, was subsequently ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour and the ongoing Champions Trophy in PAK. However, the timing of his layoff aligned with a personal milestone the birth of his second child, daughter Edi.

Reflecting on his break, Cummins shared his thoughts with ‘cricket.com.au’: “It’s been an amazing month or so, focusing on family and not having to think about training or upcoming tours. Just being present has been really special.”

Now, with IPL 2025 on the horizon, Cummins is eager to return to action with SRH, the runners-up of the previous edition. He has resumed running and plans to start bowling within the next week. SRH will open their campaign against RR on March 23, and Cummins is hopeful of being fit for the tournament’s start.

“That’s the aim at this stage start bowling over the next week or so, build up, and be ready for IPL,” Cummins said. “The good thing about a T20 tournament is the intensity is really high, which helps in getting back into rhythm.”

Cummins believes IPL 2025 is the perfect platform to prepare for the WTC final against SA, followed by a crucial three-Test series in WI. The AUS skipper is determined to build up his fitness gradually, ensuring his ankle is fully recovered.

“The ankle is starting to come good,” he said. “It’s not like a hamstring where you need six weeks to heal. It just needs a bit more rest to settle down. I’ve been doing loads of rehab in the gym and slowly building back up.”

For fast bowlers, injury management is crucial. Cummins acknowledged that while the ankle issue is not new, it isn’t a long-term concern either. “It’s just one of those things you have to manage. A bit of a break now should set things up for the next year or so.”

The IPL’s four-over bowling spells offer a structured way for him to regain match fitness before heading into the high-intensity WTC final. Cummins emphasized how the tournament’s format will help in his preparation. “Four overs in T20s is a nice buildup for the WTC final and the Test matches after that.”

After missing the Champions Trophy due to injury, Cummins has now set his sights on IPL 2025 as the first step towards making a strong international return. With AUS looking forward to an important cricketing calendar, the team will be banking on their skipper’s full fitness.

During Cummins’ absence, AUS has seen Steven Smith step in as captain for the Champions Trophy. While missing key tournaments is always a setback, Cummins has used the time off wisely prioritizing recovery while also spending valuable time with his family.

As the countdown to IPL 2025 begins, SRH fans will be eager to see their star pacer back in action. With the WTC final against SA and the WI tour coming up, all eyes will be on Cummins as he prepares for an eventful return.