IPL 2026 Eliminator: Pat Cummins Has A Special Plan To Tackle Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins is preparing for a high-pressure IPL 2026 Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals, knowing a place in the next playoff stage is at stake. Cummins said there is extra tension in such knockout games and stressed that SRH must stay aggressive while dealing with nerves during this crucial phase of the tournament.

The SRH skipper explained that players cannot treat this like a regular league match, even if routines stay similar. Cummins said the squad wants to trust the methods that carried SRH into the playoffs, yet also accept that mistakes are harder to forgive in an Eliminator, where a single poor session can end a campaign.

IPL 2026: Pat Cummins focuses on mentality and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi threat

Cummins outlined how SRH is approaching the pressure, highlighting a mindset built around playing boldly. "I always like to think, 'How are you going to look back on that game with no regrets?' So, that's always kind of my mentality going into a final. Instead of being more conservative, try to be even more aggressive," Cummins said about his approach.

Cummins also reminded that SRH have already put together strong winning runs in IPL 2026. "We have to win three in a row to win it. We've won more than that throughout the season. We won five in a row at one stage, so it's possible. These are teams that we know quite well. So, yeah, it's not going to be easy, but I feel like we can do it."

IPL 2026: Pat Cummins plans for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi challenge

Alongside the mental side, SRH are sharpening tactical plans for 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, one of the season’s standout performers. The teenager has made a serious push for the orange cap in IPL 2026, and Cummins acknowledged that containing Sooryavanshi could heavily influence which team advances from this Eliminator.

Cummins said bowlers need clear strategies when facing batters capable of changing games quickly. "It's always a balance of, as a bowler, understanding what you do well and how you're going to bowl to your strengths. But when there are probably one or two players in every lineup who can take the game away from the opposition, you do spend a little bit longer working on a Plan B or Plan C. So, yeah, we'll plan for him," Cummins told JioStar.

IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi record against SRH and Cummins review

Sooryavanshi has already given SRH contrasting experiences in IPL 2026. In the first clash in Hyderabad, the Royals batter fell for a golden duck, offering SRH early control. However, in the reverse fixture at Jaipur, Sooryavanshi answered with a blistering hundred that shifted the narrative around this particular match-up.

The young batter’s century came from just 37 balls, including 12 sixes and five fours, and forced SRH to reassess their plans. Reflecting on that game, Cummins said, "Even though he got a hundred against us last time, I thought there were times when we actually bowled quite well to him and kept him quiet. At other times, he got away from us. So, we'll learn from that." Cummins’ comments underline SRH’s intent to adapt both tactics and mindset for the Eliminator.