Pat Cummins has returned home to Australia after a minor hip injury cut short his record-setting spell with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
Australia's Test skipper will undergo two weeks of rest and rehabilitation to ensure he's fit and ready to lead his side in the Test and one-day international tour to Sri Lanka.
The 29-year-old paceman underwent an MRI scan on his right hip on Tuesday before the decision was made to curtail what Cummins called an "amazing time" in his fifth IPL season.
The highlight of his stay came not with the ball but with his whirlwind half-century for the Knight Riders, the joint-fastest 50, smashed off just 14 balls, in IPL annals.
He was also getting back to his strike bowling best, taking 3-22 in the win over Mumbai Indians on Monday, his best figures in five matches for Kolkata this season.
"I had an amazing time in India, and I would like to thank KKR for taking care of my family and me," Cummins said in a video posted on the official Knight Riders' site.
"I wish all the team members the best of luck for the remainder of the tournament. I will be watching the games and be cheering on."
Kolkata are still outsiders to reach the knockout phase of the IPL and Cummins, who took seven wickets all told, wants to be in the best shape possible for the five ODIs and two Tests in Sri Lanka.
He'd already been rested for the Twenty20 leg of the tour but hopes to be ready to continue his Australia captaincy success when the first ODI takes place in Kandy on June 14.
Cummins, who will also be a key figure in the T20 World Cup title defence in October, has made a remarkable start to Test leadership, guiding Australia to a 1-0 victory in Pakistan after overseeing the triumph against England while picking up 21 Ashes wickets.
