Pat Cummins Shines in IPL Return Against Young Star
Pat Cummins made a strong return to the cricket pitch, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory in a match that saw him face off against 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibav Suryavanshi. This encounter marked a significant moment in Cummins’ comeback from a back injury that had disrupted his Ashes summer.
In an Indian Premier League (IPL) season where bowlers have struggled, Cummins faced a tough challenge right from the start. His first ball to Suryavanshi was hit for a six over mid-wicket, and he conceded 11 runs from his first over. However, Cummins quickly adjusted and managed to restrict the opposition, conceding just seven runs from his final two overs. He also delivered a crucial yorker to dismiss Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag, a performance that could please Australia’s selectors after a long layoff.
Cummins expressed admiration for Suryavanshi, who scored a century in just 36 balls after reaching 50 in only 15 deliveries. “He’s my new favourite player,” Cummins said. “He hits the ball so hard, it’s great to watch. You’ve got to be right on the money as a bowler because if you’re not, it’s going a long way. He’s impressive, and I like the way he plays.”
Those close to Cummins believe that the 10 months he spent recovering from his back injury—interrupted only by a six-wicket haul in the Adelaide Ashes Test—could help extend his international career. With a demanding schedule ahead, including up to 21 Tests in 12 months starting in August, Cummins is determined to maintain his form.
“I’m really happy. Never quite sure how it’ll come out first game,” Cummins said. “I pick it up better than 10 years ago. The IPL’s fun—you’ve always got to change the fields, use the bowlers, and the batters are always making you think. So I enjoyed it, felt pretty natural.”
Regarding the challenges of bowling in an IPL where high scores are common, Cummins joked about the need for bowlers to improve their batting. The two Saturday night games saw a combined total of 986 runs, highlighting how flat pitches and aggressive batting have turned this IPL into a batting showcase.
“I guess you just work on your batting,” Cummins joked. “It’s a good challenge. You can have a bad couple of overs, but if you come back and bowl a really good death over, that can be match-winning. I actually think in some ways it takes the pressure off us bowlers, knowing that our batting lineup can chase whatever.”
Cummins acknowledged that while the wickets might be flat, the game is only 20 overs, not a five-day Test match. “I’m OK with that, maximum four overs. It is what it is. We set up our team to try to go big on our batting, and as bowlers, it’s up to us to try to minimize the runs.”
Chasing 229 to win, Travis Head fell early, well beaten in a duel with Jofra Archer and caught behind. However, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan led Sunrisers Hyderabad to a successful chase, moving them up to third on the IPL table.
Punjab Kings, coached by Ricky Ponting, maintained their position at the top of the league after chasing down a huge score against Delhi Capitals. KL Rahul scored a magnificent 152 from 67 balls, targeting Cricket Australia-contracted swing bowler Xavier Bartlett, who was hit for 69 runs from four overs.
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