Australia captain Pat Cummins has indicated he could skip the IPL 2027 season to prioritise an action-packed international calendar that includes a major Test series in India, the Ashes, and the ICC ODI World Cup. Cummins, who has been a key figure for Sunrisers Hyderabad in recent IPL seasons, revealed that managing his workload will be crucial next year.
With Australia facing one of their busiest schedules in recent memory, the fast-bowling all-rounder admitted that something may have to give, and the IPL could be the tournament sacrificed. Sunrisers Hyderabad enjoyed another strong campaign in IPL 2026, finishing third in the league stage under Cummins’ leadership. However, the Australian skipper made it clear that Test cricket and World Cup commitments remain at the top of his priority list.
Australia’s 2027 schedule is packed with high-profile assignments. The team is set to tour India for a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series before taking part in the historic 150th Anniversary Test against England. Following that, Australia will head into another demanding Ashes campaign before turning their attention to the ICC ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. “Something has got to give at some stage next year and it’s not going to be Test matches or an ODI World Cup,” Cummins said while discussing his future plans.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Guides Vaibhav Sooryavanshi After Record-Breaking IPL Season
The 2023 World Test Championship and ODI World Cup-winning captain emphasised that representing Australia in the longest format and major ICC events will always take precedence over franchise cricket.
PAT CUMMINS ON IPL 2027. 🗣️
“I’ll make a call a lot closer and work with SRH to see what makes sense. I’ve had a couple of injuries pop up, so don’t want to lock anything. The priorities for me are Tests and the World Cup. If I play all of India, I need some rest before the… pic.twitter.com/mUEdqoXkgE
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 3, 2026
“The priorities for me are always the Test matches and that ODI World Cup. If I play all five Tests in India, I’ll probably need some sort of break before a pretty gruelling Ashes series,” he explained. Despite hinting at a possible IPL absence, Cummins stopped short of making a final decision. He confirmed that discussions with Sunrisers Hyderabad will take place closer to the tournament before any call is made.
ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana Reveals What India Must Improve Before T20 World Cup
“I’ll make a decision much closer to the IPL and work with the franchise to see what makes sense. Things can change, especially with injuries and workload management,” he added. Cummins also suggested that Australia may adopt a cautious approach with fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood during upcoming bilateral series.
The team management is reportedly considering resting key pacers at different stages of the season to ensure they remain fresh for the demanding India tour and the Ashes. With multiple marquee assignments on the horizon, Australia’s leadership group appears focused on long-term planning, even if it means some of their biggest stars could miss franchise cricket commitments in 2027.
