The defending champions Mumbai Indians dealt huge blow as Australian seamer Pat Cummins ruled out of the Indian Premier League with another back injury.

The 24-year-old will miss the rest of the IPL and will no longer play a part for the Mumbai Indians after a heavy workload during the past year.

He has played 13 consecutive Test matches for the Baggy Green, has bowled approx 450 overs since the last Australian summer.

Team physiotherapist David Beakley said: “It is important that Pat has time off bowling, to prevent the injury becoming more serious and consequently we have made the decision to rule Pat out of the IPL.

“Pat will now undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation and we will look to re-scan him in a few weeks to assess the healing.

“Following this we will be in a better position to decide on Pat’s return to play timeline including participation in the limited overs tour of the UK.”

Cummins was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $1.05 million but missed the opening game of the IPL, a narrow defeat to the Chennai Super Kings.