Pat Cummins leaves IPL 2022 early with hip injury

Pat Cummins' stint at the IPL in 2022 has been cut short by a hip injury. It is understood that he has returned home to Sydney to start recovery from what is considered a minor problem and is expected to be fit in time for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next month.

Cummins played five games for Kolkata Knight Riders this IPL season, which was enough time for him to score the joint-fastest fifty in the tournament's history. He also picked up seven wickets including 3 for 22 in his last game against Mumbai Indians.

But with Knight Riders looking unlikely to progress beyond the group stage, and Australia facing a very busy year which includes a T20 World Cup title defence in October, Cummins has decided to step back and get his body right. The 29-year old had already been rested from the T20I leg of the Sri Lanka tour. But given his status as Test captain and new-ball bowler across formats, he is likely to be heavily involved in the team's other assignments, namely a five-Test home summer, a Test tour of India and an Ashes campaign in England.

Cummins came into the IPL on the back of a highly successful tour of Pakistan. His 5 for 56 and 3 for 23 in Lahore were instrumental in Australia winning that series 1-0. Before that, in his first series as captain, he led the side to a resounding Ashes victory, picking up 21 wicket across four Tests. Cummins' recovery is expected to take two weeks. Knight Riders, who have two games left to play in the IPL, have not asked for a replacement.