Australia’s Pat Cummins ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026

The Australian cricket team suffered a major setback in the build-up to their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign after fast bowler Pat Cummins was ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury.

Pat Cummins, who was restricted to just one Test during Australia's 4-1 Ashes triumph and was rested in their ongoing T20 series against Pakistan, was initially named in the provisional 15-member Australian T20 World Cup squad despite injury concerns.

However, on Saturday, it was ascertained that the fast bowler has failed to fully recover from his back injury and will consequently miss the tournament.

Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test and ODI skipper, was the vice-captain of the team when they lifted the T20 World Cup in 2021. He also won the 2023 ODI World Cup as captain.

Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis, who has taken 20 wickets in 13 T20Is, will replace the injured Cummins in Australia’s final squad.

It will be a maiden T20 World Cup experience for Dwarshuis, who picked up 16 wickets in the recently concluded Big Bash League season.

“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting," Australian selector Tony Dodemaide said.

“We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace along with clever variations will be well suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad,” he added.

Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David, both of whom were named in the provisional squad despite injury worries like Cummins, recovered in time to make the final list.

Top order batter Matt Short, meanwhile, was dropped from the squad based on form and Matthew Renshaw has also been roped in as a replacement.

Matthew Renshaw made his T20I debut for Australia in the opening game of the ongoing three-match T20I series against Pakistan on Thursday. He also impressed in BBL 2025-26, scoring 324 in 10 matches at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 153.55.

“Matt (Renshaw) has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat,” Tony Dodemaide said on Renshaw’s selection.

“With the top order settled and spin heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return to play program in the early phase of the tournament,” he added.

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