Pat Cummins Ruled Out of T20 World Cup 2026, Australia Make Last-Minute Squad Changes

Australia will not have Pat Cummins in their squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, as the Test captain has failed to recover fully from his recurring injury. In his place, Australia have brought in Ben Dwarshuis. The team has also made another big change by replacing Matthew Short with Matthew Renshaw because of Short’s poor recent form.

Ben Dwarshuis Named as Pat Cummin's Replacement

January 31 is the final deadline for teams to confirm their squads for the T20 World Cup 2026. Although Australia announced their team on New Year’s Day, they have made a few changes since then.

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Pat Cummins Bowler

Pat Cummins is an elite Australian fast bowler, captain, and right-handed batsman, known for leading Australia to the WTC & ODI World Cup wins in 2023, starring for Sydney Thunder, and holding records as world #1 Test bowler and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2019).

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Matthew Short Batsman

Matthew Short is a 30-year-old Australian cricketer born on November 8, 1995, in Ballarat, Victoria.

The good news for Australia is that Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, and Nathan Ellis are all fit and available. Hazlewood missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. Tim David, who played an important role in RCB’s first IPL title, missed most of the Big Bash League and the ongoing Pakistan tour because of a hamstring problem. Nathan Ellis also missed the BBL finals and the Pakistan series with a similar injury.

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Australia Founded: 1877

The Australian cricket team is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history and has a tremendous record in one-dayers, having won more than 60% of the matches they have played.

Cummins has played only one international match since July 2025 and was even ready to miss some group matches in the World Cup. However, he has not fully recovered from his back injury. The SunRisers Hyderabad captain is expected to be fit in time for IPL 2026 in March.

Matthew Renshaw has come in for Matthew Short. Although Short was unlikely to be in the playing XI because Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh are the main openers, his poor form made the decision easier. Since July 2025, Short has averaged only 24.36 with a strike rate of 128.61.

Australia also had the option to pick Steve Smith, but they chose Renshaw to add a left-handed batter. Renshaw has been in good form in domestic cricket, scoring 339 runs in T20 matches over the last year at an average of 33.9 and a strike rate of 152.7.

“Matt has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white-ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat. With the top order settled and spin-heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return-to-play programme in the early phase of the tournament. As a left-hander, he [Renshaw] also offers a point of difference to the middle order batting.”

ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Australia squad

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

In: Matt Renshaw, Ben Dwarshuis

Out: Pat Cummins, Matthew Short

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