Published on: Feb 3, 2026 1:04 pm IST|Updated on: Feb 3, 2026 1:12 pm IST
The Australian ODI and Test skipper Pat Cummins has missed the flight to India and Sri Lanka for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The right-arm pacer was left out of the Australian final 15 ahead of the marquee event due to a lingering back complaint that has been troubling him after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at home. The paceman was hoping to play his first T20I in this marquee event after a hiatus from the format for almost two years. His last T20I appearance for Australia came in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, i.e., in 2024 in the Caribbean. Talking about his omission from the squad, Cummins stated to the Australian Associated Press, “It was really unfortunate.” He further added,
“I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really.“I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there.“We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up.“Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but just had a follow-up scan.“They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight.”
“I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really.
“I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there.
“We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up.
“Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but just had a follow-up scan.
“They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight.”
The paceman is targeting a return in the cash-rich Indian Premier League 2026 for a return to competitive cricket. His back troubles have kept him on the sidelines for most of 2025, but the skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad is eyeing a return to his franchise in the IPL 2026, slated to get underway in the last week of March.
The 32-year-old has also stressed having a hectic Test schedule in the latter part of this year, and he wishes to play those red-ball games in full rhythm. The Aussies are set to play a two-test series against Bangladesh at home, followed by a heavy-duty 3-match Test series in South Africa against the reigning World Test Champions. Their current Test cycle also features four games against New Zealand at home and 5 against India in India.
Cummins noted,
“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up.“We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches.Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail a bit.”
“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up.
“We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches.
Whereas, if you’re not careful with it now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail a bit.”
Despite a humiliation in the 3-match T20I series against Pakistan, Pat Cummins believes his team is well-oiled to perform well in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. The 32-year-old believes the series loss in Pakistan isn’t the true indication of what Australia looks like heading into the World Cup and expects them to perform well in the marquee event.
“It wasn’t our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys coming back from injury for the World Cup,” Cummins said.“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.”
“It wasn’t our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys coming back from injury for the World Cup,” Cummins said.
“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.”
After a demeaning show in Pakistan, the 2021 champions aren’t among the favorites to lift the elusive T20 World Cup for the second time in history. The team looks pale and is dependent on their recent BBL stars, who are capable of doing well only in familiar conditions. The likes of Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Nathan Ellis, Josh Inglis, and Glenn Maxwell are among the big names in the team, but their recent form has been under the scanner. A lot will depend on skipper Mitchell Marsh and the experienced bowling duo of Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa to carry this team in the entire tournament.
One thing that works in favor of Australia is the fact that they have a relatively easy group to make it to the Super 8s. They are placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman, and the co-hosts Sri Lanka. They are bound to get through to the Super 8 stage, where their real challenge would start.
Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Mitchell Marsh (C), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Tags: T20 World Cup 2026