Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has indicated that the workload could force him to reconsider his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027, as the national side prepares for a gruelling run leading into the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The schedule includes high-intensity away tours and culminates in the ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, where Australia will aim to defend their title.
Cummins acknowledged that adjustments to his playing calendar may be unavoidable, especially with the need for recovery time between the India series in early 2027 and the Ashes later that year.
“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,” Cummins told The Age.
He added that if he plays the full India series, he would likely need a break before the Ashes series.
Australia’s pace trio of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have all recently dealt with injury concerns, prompting discussions around workload management and rotation within the bowling unit.
Cummins also suggested that Australia may increasingly rely on a broader pool of fast bowlers, with players like Scott Boland continuing to play a key support role in the Test setup.
“Yeah, it’s possible. We’re fairly open-minded to anything. A Test match is a Test match. We’re realistic that we’re going to need more than three fast bowlers,” he said.
He also indicated that bowlers could be rested during ongoing series if required to prepare for major assignments like the Ashes.
Cummins, who recently recovered from a lumbar stress issue that ruled him out of parts of the 2025–26 Ashes and the 2026 T20 World Cup, said he feels fresher but expects a demanding period ahead.
“I’ve played one [Test] in the last 12 months, so I’m feeling a lot fresher than maybe some of the other guys. It’s going to be a big push over the next 18 months, but hopefully one of the more rewarding periods of our careers,” he added.
Australia’s Test campaign resumes with a two-match series against Bangladesh in August.
