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Huge Setback For Australia! Pat Cummins Likely To Miss Champions Trophy Due To Injury

Rajgeeta Yadav

Pat Cummins Unlikely To Play In Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: @dr_artisticsoul/X.com]Pat Cummins Unlikely To Play In Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: @dr_artisticsoul/X.com]

Australia captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to begin on February 19. Head coach Andrew McDonald has revealed that Cummins has not resumed bowling yet and may not recover in time for the tournament.

Cummins skipped Australia's ongoing tour of Sri Lanka to be with his wife as they are expecting their second child. However, apart from his paternity leave, he has also been dealing with an ankle injury. He sustained the injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India and has been undergoing rehabilitation since the series ended.

"Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain," McDonald told SEN.


Who Will Be Australia's Captain For Champions Trophy?

With Cummins likely out, Australia will need a new captain for the Champions Trophy. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the top contenders for the role. Smith, who has previously led Australia in Tests and ODIs, is currently captaining the team in the Test series against Sri Lanka.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post," McDonald said.

McDonald acknowledged Smith’s leadership skills and his past experience in international cricket.

"They're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the [first] Test match. He's done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it's between those two," he added.

Apart from Cummins, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also racing against time to be fit for the tournament. His medical condition is being monitored, and a final decision on his availability will be made in the coming days.