Pat Cummins won’t be available for SRH’s opening IPL 2026 matches! The Australian captain is still recovering from a lumbar stress back injury. That serious injury happened before the 2025-26 Ashes series.
Pat Cummins played just one Test before leaving again! His recovery timeline remains unclear for joining the squad. Everyone asks who will replace him in the playing eleven?
The answer is Onkar Tarmale – SRH’s hidden gem from rural Maharashtra! The 23-year-old pacer could be Pat Cummins’ perfect backup. His incredible journey from village cricket to IPL deserves telling.
Onkar Tarmale’s Journey from Shere Village
Onkar Tarmale comes from Shere village in Shahapur taluka near Mumbai! His father Tukaram is a small-time farmer struggling financially. They mortgaged gold jewelry and took loans supporting Onkar’s cricket dreams.
That’s a sacrifice most people can’t imagine making honestly! Tukaram believed in his son when nobody else did. His father even suggested police jobs when finances became impossible.
But he insisted on continuing cricket despite those pressures! He traveled daily from Shere to Mumbai’s maidans playing lower-division matches. Recognition came extremely slowly testing his patience constantly.
SRH bought Onkar for ₹30 lakh at the mini-auction! He couldn’t even bowl properly during trials because of a hamstring injury. But his raw pace impressed bowling coach Varun Aaron immediately.
The Village That Celebrated Like a Wedding
When SRH bid for him, his entire village erupted! Processions, firecrackers, and celebrations bigger than typical weddings happened in Shere. More people attended than a normal village wedding would normally attract.
Onkar Tarmale fulfilled his father’s lifelong dream of watching him play IPL! They prayed together at the Hanuman temple during the auction. That emotional moment changed their family’s destiny completely.
His cricket journey started with tennis ball cricket initially! Coach Narendra Diwane convinced him to switch to a leather ball at 18. That coach refined his raw action into a professional pace technique.
Raw Pace That Caught Scouts’ Attention
Dhawal Kulkarni spotted Onkar Tarmale’s potential in the 2025 T20 Mumbai League! The former Indian pacer mentored him developing yorkers and variations. That mentorship proved crucial for IPL selection eventually.
He regularly clocks speeds around 140 kmph consistently! He peaked at 145 kmph catching scouts’ eyes despite limited matches. Finger fractures interrupted his progress frustratingly several times.
He currently plays for Sindh SC and BPCL maintaining fitness! Improved training and dedication finally led to IPL 2026 recognition. Now, Onkar might replace Pat Cummins in SRH’s opening matches!
Can this village boy seize his golden opportunity backing up Australia’s captain?
