The Technical Audit: Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Bat-Swing Faces a Structural Test in Manchester
A Rajasthan Royals teammate casts doubt on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's style ahead of the Manchester T20I. Inside the technical analysis of his bat-swing.
Table of contents [Show]
The Big Blow: Cummins Out for IPL 2026 Opener
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign without their talismanic captain Pat Cummins, in what is arguably the most significant injury blow ahead of the tournament. India's left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan are in the race to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in their initial matches, as regular captain Pat Cummins is unavailable while still recovering from a back injury.
SRH will play their first game on March 28 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. That opener — against the defending champions — looms even larger now, with Cummins almost certainly absent from the dugout.
The Injury Timeline: How It All Began
This saga stretches back nearly eight months. Cummins has not played since the Adelaide Test against England in mid-December, which was his only game since last July, when he initially had symptoms of a lumbar stress injury in his lower back.
July 2025: Symptoms of lumbar stress injury first appear.
December 2025: Brief return for the Ashes in Adelaide.
January 2026: Ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026.
March 2026: Still awaiting clearance from Cricket Australia (CA).
The injury had cascading consequences. Pat Cummins was ruled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup because of his back injury, with Ben Dwarshuis replacing him in Australia's final 15-man squad. Australia were subsequently eliminated in the group stage after defeats to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Where Things Stand Right Now
As of today, March 16, 2026, there is still no green light from Cricket Australia. A source close to the matter told IANS:
"Pat Cummins is recovering from the injury, but he mostly needs to clear his fitness tests, and then he will join the team. He is ready to play, but he has to clear the fitness tests and then join the SRH set-up."
D espite playing just one match in approximately three months, it appears likely that Cummins will be fit for the later stages of the IPL barring any further setbacks.
The Captaincy Race: Abhishek vs. Ishan
Two big names have emerged in the race for the interim captaincy, and credible sources are pointing in different directions.
Candidate | Credentials | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|
Abhishek Sharma | Captained Punjab in 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (4 wins in 6 matches). | Consecutive fifties vs New Zealand; vital contribution in T20 WC Final. |
Ishan Kishan | Led Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. | India's 2nd highest run-scorer in T20 WC 2026 (317 runs). |
The official word from IANS indicates both are in the race. Whoever is selected will attend the IPL 2026 captains' meet on March 25 at the Wankhede Stadium for the customary trophy photoshoot.
What Cummins' Absence Means On the Field
Beyond leadership, SRH faces a tactical void. Cummins' absence weakens an already thin bowling attack. Potential temporary replacements include:
Eshan Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Jack Edwards (Australia)
Brydon Carse (England)
With the season opener just days away, SRH finds itself in a sudden leadership reshuffle. Whether it is Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan who leads the Orange Army on March 28, the road to glory has become significantly more difficult.
