'Something has got to give' - Pat Cummins on IPL 2027 availability amid Australia's gruelling Test year

Australia Men's Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins has shed light on the possibility of missing the IPL in 2027 as Australia is set to commence a gruelling calendar of international cricket.

Australia have a hectic schedule ahead of them, with up to 21 Tests to be played in the next 12 months starting in August. In this span, they play 13 Tests away in South Africa, India and England. The run is set to culminate with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, where Australia will be looking to defend their crown. 

Keeping the schedule in mind, Cummins has stated that the need for adjustments in his schedule exists, and he will need a break in between the India series in early 2027 and the Ashes in June of the same year. He has alluded to the fact that those adjustments could come in the form of missing the 2027 Indian Premier League. 

"Something has got to give at some stage next year and it’s not going to be Test matches or an ODI World Cup. 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. 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 gruelling Ashes series," Cummins told Victorian media outlet The Age, at a promotional event for the Women's T20 World Cup.

Pace trio of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are all coming off the back of significant injuries, and with age not being on their side, will need accommodations made to manage their workload. Cummins has opened up the possibilities of managing their three big guns, with the need for more fast bowlers to be part of their Test squads. Scott Boland has been exceptional as a support bowler over the past few years, but he will see more names added to a significant support cast when the need arises.

“Yeah it’s possible. I think we’re fairly open-minded to anything, as we’ve seen over the last couple of years. Whether it’s a home Test or an away Test, we don’t see them as that different. A Test match is a Test match. We’re pretty realistic that we’re going to need more than three fast bowlers," Cummins said. 

“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," he added.

The 33-year-old has been recovering from a significant lumbar stress issue, which saw him miss four Tests in the Ashes in the Australian summer of 2025-26 and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Cummins, who also captains the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, joined the team late, playing the second half of the season.

In his absence, Ishan Kishan captained the side, which made its way to the playoffs on the back of an impressive batting unit and brilliant performances from a young bowling unit. Cummins stated that he is feeling a lot fresher but is ready to embrace the challenges of the tight schedule.

“I’ve played one [Test] in the last 12 months, so I’m feeling a lot fresher than maybe some of the other guys, but they are big series. 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.”

Australia's Test schedule for the second half of 2026 kicks off with a two-match series against Bangladesh in August.