Pat Cummins hints at skipping IPL 2027 due to packed international schedule

Australia captain Pat Cummins has hinted that he may skip IPL 2027 as he weighs up his workload during what is shaping up to be one of the busiest periods of his career. The Australian team faces a demanding calendar next year, beginning with a four-Test tour of India before returning home for the historic 150th anniversary Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. That will be followed by a high-profile Ashes series and later the ODI World Cup in southern Africa.

Speaking to Australian newspaper The Age, Cummins admitted that sacrifices may be required to ensure he remains fresh for Australia's biggest international assignments. While no decision has been made regarding his IPL future, the fast bowler suggested that franchise cricket could be one area where compromises are necessary.

"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.

"I will make a call a lot closer and work with the franchise to see what makes sense. Things can change. I've had a couple of injuries pop up, so I don't really want to lock in anything," he added.

The Australian skipper reiterated that Test cricket and the ODI World Cup remain his primary focus.

"The priorities for me are always the Test matches and that ODI World Cup. I dare say if I play all of India, I need some sort of break before a pretty grueling Ashes series," Cummins explained.

The 33-year-old has dealt with injury concerns in recent years, including back issues that have occasionally disrupted his international commitments. As a result, he believes Australia may need to carefully manage the workloads of their frontline pace attack, including Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, ahead of the Ashes.

"It's possible. I think we're fairly open-minded to anything, as we've seen over the last couple of years. I see a world where we're potentially winding some bowlers down, even say at the back end of an Indian series if they don't look like they're going to play, to give them an extra rest ahead of the Ashes," Cummins said.

Despite the packed schedule, Cummins views the next 18 months as a potentially defining chapter for the current Australian side.

"It's going to be a big push the next 18 months or so, but I think we'll look back on it hopefully and see it as one of the more rewarding periods of our career," he said.

Cummins missed the first seven matches of IPL 2026 before returning to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad's campaign. Under his captaincy, SRH reached the playoffs, while Ishan Kishan filled in as skipper during his absence. Hyderabad's season eventually ended in the Eliminator, where they were knocked out by Rajasthan Royals .