Pat Cummins is unavailable for SRH's opening matches. When he returns, his projected WAR/M of 0.29 would make him one of SRH's most valuable bowling options. His bowling WAR/M of 0.25 across 3079 career T20 bowling deliveries is backed by one of the largest samples in the squad.

His Ecae of 0.52 means he concedes 0.52 fewer runs per over than expected for the phases he bowls in. That translated to a bowling surplus of 26 runs saved above replacement in his recent campaigns. Across 139 career T20 matches, he has proven his value as a multi-phase pace option.

Bowling Profile

Cummins bowled 50 overs at 8.8 economy with 16 wickets in his most recent IPL campaign. His phase-adjusted Ecae ranked 20th of 54 qualified bowlers. He is a reliable performer rather than an elite outlier.

His deathShare of 64% on the bowling side confirms he is primarily a death-overs option. Combined with Harshal Patel and Eshan Malinga, Cummins would give SRH three dedicated death bowlers, an unusual depth of options in that phase.

Batting Contribution

Cummins adds lower-order batting value. His batting WAR/M of 0.04 across 508 career T20 batting balls is a genuine bonus. He can hold an end and occasionally accelerate in the death overs.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Cummins' unavailability for the opening matches is a significant loss. His overseas slot goes to Eshan Malinga, who provides a similar death-overs profile but with a much smaller sample. When Cummins returns, SRH face a selection puzzle: which overseas player gives way? Malinga or Livingstone would be the candidates, depending on performance.

His xImpact of 40 is modest for an overseas pace allrounder, but his 0.29 projected WAR/M is the third highest among SRH's bowling options. The sooner he returns, the stronger SRH's bowling attack becomes.