Pat Cummins is set to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being medically cleared, with the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain targeting a comeback later this month. Cummins, who had briefly joined the SRH camp at the start of the season, returned to Australia earlier in April for follow-up scans on a lingering back issue. Recent assessments in Sydney have confirmed that the lumbar bone stress injury — which had limited his appearances since July last year — has fully healed. The Australian skipper indicated via social media that he is scheduled to fly back to India and is aiming to feature in SRH’s clash against Rajasthan Royals on April 25 in Jaipur. Cummins was initially diagnosed with the stress injury in August after experiencing discomfort during Australia’s tour of the West Indies. The setback restricted him to just one appearance during the home season — the Adelaide Test against England — where he delivered an impressive six-wicket performance to help Australia retain The Ashes. Although there had been optimism about his return in time for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the tournament and the early stages of the IPL came too soon for the fast bowler. SRH Holding Steady Amid Absence Despite missing their captain, SRH have managed a steady start to the season, currently sitting fourth on the points table with two wins from five matches. The team rebounded strongly after a narrow loss to Punjab Kings — where they failed to defend a massive total of 219 — by securing a convincing 57-run victory over Rajasthan Royals. In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan has stepped in to lead the side. Head coach Daniel Vettori noted earlier that Cummins has remained actively involved with the squad, mentoring Kishan and contributing to leadership discussions even while recovering. Workload Management Key for Australia Stars Cummins’ return comes ahead of a demanding international calendar for Australia, who are scheduled to play at least 20 Test matches between August and next July. The packed schedule includes series against Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, India, and England, along with a historic 150th anniversary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia could also feature in the World Test Championship final in June if they qualify. Meanwhile, fellow Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has recently returned to action for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and is being cautiously managed following injury. He impressed with figures of 1 for 20 against Lucknow Super Giants after being rested for a match. However, Mitchell Starc is yet to join Delhi Capitals as he continues his recovery from shoulder and elbow injuries sustained during the Big Bash League. With Cummins’ return on the horizon, SRH will be boosted by the presence of their captain as the tournament heads into a crucial phase.

Virat Kohli climbed to the top of the IPL run-scorers’ chart and secured the Orange Cap after a composed knock of 49 off 34 balls guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a comfortable chase against Lucknow Super Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 147, RCB leaned on Kohli’s steady innings after he was introduced as an Impact Player — a first in his IPL career. The veteran batter, who had been dealing with knee soreness in recent days, returned to form at a crucial moment, taking his season tally to 228 runs. Kohli now leads the Orange Cap standings, narrowly ahead of Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who has amassed 224 runs so far. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar also made gains, moving up to third place after a brisk 27 off 13 balls in the same match. Among other standout performers this season, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remain the only batters apart from the top three to cross the 200-run mark. Purple Cap Race Intensifies On the bowling front, the race for the Purple Cap remains tightly contested. Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings and Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans are currently tied at the top with 10 wickets each. Close behind are Ravi Bishnoi of Rajasthan Royals and Prince Yadav of LSG, both with nine wickets. Meanwhile, experienced campaigners Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya have seven wickets each after five matches. Notably, Krunal stands out as the only finger spinner among the top ten wicket-takers this season, underlining his consistency and value in the middle overs. With the tournament heating up, both the Orange and Purple Cap races promise intense competition in the matches ahead.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) could be set to unleash one of their most exciting fast-bowling prospects, Mayank Yadav, in their upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Mayank, who grabbed national attention with his blistering pace during IPL 2024—clocking speeds of over 156 kmph—has endured a challenging journey since his breakout season. A series of injuries and extended rehabilitation kept him out of action for more than a year. Now, after carefully managed workload progression, the young pacer appears ready to make his return. On the eve of the crucial fixture, Mayank went through an intense yet controlled training session, including spot bowling and a short, high-speed spell under the watchful eye of LSG bowling coach B Arun. His rhythm and pace indicated that he is nearing match readiness. LSG’s global director of cricket Tom Moody confirmed that Mayank is now fully fit but had been held back earlier in the tournament due to a lack of match readiness rather than fitness concerns. “Mayank is ready to go,” Moody said. “He was slightly underdone at the start—not physically, but in terms of bowling loads and comfort at the crease. He’s worked exceptionally hard to reach this stage.” However, his return presents a selection headache for LSG. The team’s bowling unit has performed consistently, even though their batting has struggled to provide adequate support. If Mayank is included in the playing XI, it could come at the expense of Avesh Khan, who is also making a comeback from injury. Despite an expensive economy rate this season, Avesh’s experience remains valuable. LSG have also been monitoring the fitness of Mohsin Khan, another key pacer returning from injury, who is expected to undergo a final fitness test on match day. Beyond their bowling concerns, LSG continue to build a reputation for discovering emerging talent. Following Mayank’s rise in 2024 and Digvesh Rathi in 2025, the spotlight this season has shifted to Mukul Choudhary. The young batter made headlines with a match-winning unbeaten 54 off 27 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders, sealing victory with a last-ball scramble after a crucial six. While the performance catapulted Mukul into the limelight, Moody cautioned against the risks of sudden fame. He emphasized that the franchise is focused on keeping the youngster grounded and supported within a stable team environment. “He’s a very humble and measured young man,” Moody noted. “We’re mindful of how quickly attention can grow, but he has shown great signs of staying focused and continuing to work hard.” As LSG prepare for their high-stakes encounter against RCB, the potential return of Mayank Yadav adds both excitement and complexity. With key players returning and young talents emerging, the team faces critical decisions that could shape their campaign going forward.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) struggles in IPL 2026 continued as they slumped to yet another defeat, leaving them winless after five matches. With just one point from a washout, the team’s campaign has been marked by inconsistent performances, questionable tactics, and a lack of cohesion across departments. Former Australia captain Aaron Finch did not hold back in his assessment, criticizing KKR’s approach—particularly during their recent run chase against Chennai Super Kings. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Finch described the performance as “certainly not pretty” and raised concerns about the team’s decision-making. Despite a bold move to promote Sunil Narine to the top of the order—a strategy that previously brought success during KKR’s 2024 title-winning campaign—the experiment failed to deliver. Narine managed just 24 runs off 17 balls, while opening partner Finn Allen continued his inconsistent run with a score of 1. KKR’s middle-order approach also came under scrutiny. The partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi yielded 50 runs off 31 balls but lacked the aggression needed in a high-scoring chase. Finch noted that such partnerships fail to put pressure on the opposition or force tactical changes from rival captains. One of the biggest talking points has been the usage of Cameron Green, who was bought for a hefty INR 25.20 crore at the auction. Green has been shuffled across the batting order and was placed at No. 6 in the latest game—an unfamiliar position for him in T20 cricket. He was dismissed for a duck after facing just one ball against spin, further highlighting his discomfort in that role. Finch emphasized that team selection should not be influenced by a player’s price tag. “You don’t pick a team based on what you paid for someone,” he said, urging KKR to focus on form and role clarity instead. He suggested that players like Tim Seifert, who is currently on the bench despite strong recent performances, could provide the attacking edge KKR desperately needs. KKR bowling coach Tim Southee defended the team’s experimentation, stating that the IPL provides an opportunity to test squad depth, especially during a losing streak. However, with both batting and bowling units struggling for consistency, time may be running out for trial and error. As KKR prepares to face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Friday, the pressure is mounting. With mounting criticism and dwindling chances of playoff qualification, the team may need to make bold changes—both in personnel and strategy—to revive their campaign.

Peshawar Zalmi continued their dominant run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), maintaining their position at the top of the table with a convincing 24-run victory over Multan Sultans in Match 22. A standout performance from Kusal Mendis once again proved pivotal, as the in-form batter struck a fluent 68 off 40 balls to anchor Zalmi’s innings. His effort came after an explosive start from Mohammad Haris, who smashed 38 off just 17 deliveries, setting the tone early with aggressive strokeplay. Despite an early setback with captain Babar Azam struggling for rhythm and falling for 18, Zalmi posted a formidable 196 for 6. Mendis found solid support from Farhan Yousaf during a crucial 63-run partnership, while late cameos from Michael Bracewell and Iftikhar Ahmed boosted the total. In response, Multan Sultans mounted a competitive chase, with Josh Philippe and Steven Smith keeping the required rate in check during the early stages. However, regular breakthroughs—led by Sufiyan Muqeem, who claimed three wickets—prevented them from building sustained momentum. The Sultans briefly surged ahead thanks to an aggressive cameo from Shan Masood, who hammered 35 off 19 balls, including a 21-run over against Aamer Jamal. Captain Ashton Turner also contributed with a brisk knock, keeping the contest alive deep into the innings. However, the turning point came when Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed Masood at a crucial juncture, halting the Sultans’ momentum. From there, Zalmi’s bowling attack tightened its grip, with Nahid Rana delivering a sensational spell in the death overs. Bowling at speeds exceeding 147 kph, Rana conceded just eight runs across the 17th and 19th overs while picking up key wickets. The final five overs yielded only 26 runs, as Zalmi closed out the game comfortably, extending their unbeaten streak and reinforcing their status as the team to beat this season. With Mendis continuing his golden run and the bowling unit firing collectively, Peshawar Zalmi look firmly on course for a strong finish in the league stage.

The Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has named Mitchell Starc and Deepti Sharma as the Leading Cricketers in the World in its 163rd edition, recognizing their exceptional performances during a remarkable 2025 season. Starc, 36, was awarded the Leading Men’s Cricketer honor after a dominant year in Test cricket. The Australian pacer claimed 55 wickets at an average of 17.32 across 11 Tests, including a career-best 6 for 9 against the West Indies. He carried that form into the 2025–26 Ashes, where he took 31 wickets at 19.93, playing a decisive role in Australia’s series triumph. Meanwhile, India’s Deepti Sharma, 28, was named Leading Women’s Cricketer following her all-round brilliance in India’s historic ICC Women’s World Cup victory on home soil. She scored 215 runs and took 22 wickets during the tournament, culminating in a match-winning performance in the final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, where she struck 58 runs and claimed 5 for 39 to seal a 52-run victory. India’s men’s team also received significant recognition. Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj were all named among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for their performances in the fiercely contested 2-2 Test series against England. Gill, India’s captain, also secured the Wisden Trophy for the year’s outstanding individual performance, thanks to his remarkable 430-run effort in the Edgbaston Test. In the shortest format, Abhishek Sharma was recognized as the Leading T20 Cricketer in the World after scoring over 1,000 runs at a strike rate exceeding 200 during the calendar year. England’s representation in the awards was limited, with Haseeb Hameed earning a place among the Five Cricketers of the Year. The former opener was instrumental in Nottinghamshire’s County Championship-winning campaign, amassing 1,258 runs at an average of 66.00, including two double centuries. Beyond the awards, Wisden editor Lawrence Booth offered a critical assessment of England’s recent struggles, particularly their 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. He described the campaign as a squandered opportunity, criticizing the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes for becoming “predictable” and “dogmatic.” The Almanack also touches on broader structural issues within English cricket, including concerns about limited access to the sport in state schools. Writer James Coyne highlights the growing divide between privately educated players and those from state schools, urging reforms to make cricket more accessible nationwide. This year’s edition also pays tribute to the late umpire Dickie Bird, remembered fondly for his charisma, fairness, and enduring legacy in the game. The latest Wisden edition not only celebrates individual brilliance but also reflects on the evolving challenges facing modern cricket, both on and off the field.