Pat Cummins on IPL’s two-year ban rule

In a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, SunRisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins shared his thoughts on the new Indian Premier League (IPL) rules regarding player availability. When asked about the rule that imposes a two-year ban on players who make themselves unavailable after being picked in the auction, Cummins said, “There’s a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don’t know whether that would have affected me in the past, I’ve never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL“

BCCI Introduces new auction rules

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced several new regulations to the IPL 2025 auction process. One of the key rules states that if an overseas player opts out of a mega-auction, they will be ineligible to participate in the following year’s auction. Also, if a player pulls out before the start of the season, he will be banned from playing in the IPL for two years.

Cummins prioritises Test cricket and World Cups

Commenting on the changes, Cummins acknowledged the new rule poses a fresh challenge but emphasised that Test cricket and ICC tournaments for Australia remain his top priority. “Test cricket is the absolute No. 1 priority, and World Cups are right up there. I use these as the tent poles to plan the rest of my schedule,” Cummins said.

Cummins’ leadership and success with SRH

Cummins, the captain of both Australia’s Test and ODI teams, led SunRisers Hyderabad to the IPL final in the 2024 season. Under his leadership, SRH adopted an aggressive batting style. Cummins was bought for Rs 20.50 crore in the 2023 auction, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history. The bidding war between SRH, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru contributed to his record payday.

Cummins on batting lineup against India in BGT

India and Australia are all set to face each other in the upcoming much-awaited BGT (Border-Gavaskar-Trophy). Cummins and McDonald have yet to finalise Australia’s top six for the India series, especially with Steve Smith’s recent stint as an opener being less likely if Cameron Green is unavailable. Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and even Marnus Labuschagne are being considered as alternatives.

Outside the current squad, players like Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft are frequently discussed, while Tasmania’s Beau Webster has made a strong case as a promising all-rounder. Travis Head remains a key contender for the opening spot.

“It’s Ron and my responsibility to set the order,” Cummins said. “There’s always talk around cricket. Some of it you pay attention to, some you don’t. We’re still quite a way from the series, so there’s time before we make any final decisions.”