Australian captain Pat Cummins is gearing up to lead his team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, hoping to end a decade-long wait for a series win against India. The series begins on November 22 in Perth, and Cummins, captaining in his first home BGT, shared his thoughts on the contest and some key Indian players.
Cummins reflected on India’s decision to move on from experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom were instrumental in India’s back-to-back series victories in Australia. “Both of them played some crucial innings,” Cummins said. He especially praised Pujara, the Player of the Series in 2018-19, known for his marathon batting performances.
“It was always a challenge facing Pujara. He never seemed to get away from you, but then he’d just bat, and bat, and bat,” Cummins said. He admitted it would feel different not having Pujara in the mix, as the number three spot is now likely to be filled by either Shubman Gill or Devdutt Padikkal, depending on Gill’s fitness.
On Rahane, Cummins acknowledged his contributions as a stand-in captain during the 2020-21 series but noted that India is now looking to younger players like Sarfaraz Khan or Dhruv Jurel for the middle order.
The Bumrah vs Cummins Battle
Cummins also spoke highly of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, who will play a key role in the series. “I’m a big fan of Bumrah. He’s a fantastic bowler and has a lot of experience playing in Australia,” Cummins said.
Bumrah made a huge impact during the 2018-19 series, taking 21 wickets to become the leading wicket-taker. Although he missed the crucial Gabba Test on India’s next tour, he was influential in India’s victory at the MCG.
There’s even a possibility that Bumrah could lead India as captain if Rohit Sharma is unavailable due to paternity leave. This could set up an exciting battle between Cummins and Bumrah, not just as bowlers but as captains.
With both teams bringing a mix of experience and fresh talent, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be another thrilling chapter in the rivalry between India and Australia.