New Delhi, 03 February (H.S.): Australia's pace spearhead Pat Cummins revealed on Monday, that he came agonizingly close to securing a spot in the 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup but was edged out by a minor delay in his back injury recovery.
Cummins, sidelined by a persistent back issue, explained that despite feeling physically improved, insufficient time remained to attain full match fitness before the tournament's February 7, 2026, commencement. Ben Dwarshuis has replaced him in the Australian lineup, with Cummins quoted by the ICC: It has truly been unfortunate. I felt quite good, just a small niggle, and honestly, time simply ran out. Now I'll rest for a few weeks and plan ahead.
Following the Adelaide Test, Australia's medical team advised a four-to-eight-week period for his back to stabilize completely before resuming high workloads. Cummins elaborated: We knew post-Adelaide Test that the bone needed four to eight weeks to fully settle before ramping up loads again. Initially, four weeks seemed sufficient as I felt strong, but follow-up scans indicated two more weeks were essential.
This compressed timeline rendered full fitness by World Cup start unattainable, prompting caution. Cummins eyes a competitive return during the March 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), though his primary focus remains peak readiness for key Test matches later in the year—including home series against Bangladesh, tours to South Africa, and clashes with New Zealand and India within the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
Considering the cricket ahead, prioritizing caution in the year's first half felt right, Cummins noted. Pushing now risks reinjury and greater setbacks. Despite his absence, he expressed firm confidence in the team, dismissing their recent T20I series loss to Pakistan as unrepresentative: Pakistan exposed weaknesses, but players emerge from robust Big Bash seasons, some recovering from injuries. Morale remains high; everyone's eagerly awaiting the tournament.
The 2021 T20 World Cup defending champions Australia face Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman, and co-host Sri Lanka in the group stage.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
