IPL 2018: Pat Cummins ruled out of Mumbai Indians due to back injury

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 owing to a back injury. Cummins was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 5.4 crore.

The 24-year-old also missed out the opening match against the Chennai Super Kings because of the same reason.

International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the news by saying that Cummins is suffering from ‘bone oedema in his vertebrae’. Cummins becomes the second player to be ruled out of the Mumbai Indians franchise after Mitchell Starc.

David Beakley, Cricket Australia’s Bupa Support Team Physiotherapist said, “Pat experienced some back soreness during the fourth Test in South Africa. Follow-up scans have confirmed that he has bone oedema in his vertebrae. It is important that Pat has time off bowling, to prevent the injury becoming more serious and consequently we have made the decision to rule Pat out of the IPL.”

Beakley added, “Pat will now undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation and we will look to re-scan him in a few weeks to assess the healing. Following this we will be in a better position to decide on Pat’s return to play timeline including participation in the limited overs tour of the UK.”

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Cummins, right now, is also in doubt for Australia’s next series against England which will take place in June, along with a T20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

The news of Cummins being ruled out comes just after a day of Indian middle-order batsman Kedhar Jadhav was ruled out of the series because of a hamstring injury. Prior to that, Delhi Daredevils had to replace South African pacer Kagiso Rabada with England pacer Liam Plunkett owing to Rabada’s lower-stress back.