'It's going to feel a bit different without him': Pat Cummins will miss battle with this player Indian player in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Pat Cummins said that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane did not seem like batters who would take the game away in a jiffy but will bat for a long period of time.

Sports Tak

• Sun • 17 Nov 2024

Australia's paceman Pat Cummins (L) appeals for a decision against India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (R) on the second day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and India at the MCG in Melbourne on December 27, 2020.

Pat Cummins, Cheteshwar Pujara

Highlights:

Pat Cummins has 50 Test wickets against India.

Cummins will miss the battle against Cheteshwar Pujara.

Australian captain Pat Cummins reserved high praise for out-of-favour Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Cummins has been charged of ending Australia's BGT series win drought after two consecutive losses at home under Tim Paine's captaincy.

Cummins feels that veteran batters Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane did not look threatening but showed exceptional resillience.

"They (Rahane and Pujara) both scored some really important innings,” Cummins told TOI. “It was always great playing against Pujara. He was one of those guys who never really felt like he was getting away from you. But then he would bat, and bat, and bat, and bat."

Pujara played a crucial role in India's Test series win after Virat Kohli flew back home due to personal reasons. He was battered and bruised but stuck to his conventional game to tire out Australian bowlers.

"I always really enjoyed the contest against him. Some days he won, other days I won. So, it's going to feel a bit different without him," the fast bowler added.

ALSO READ: Glenn McGrath wants Australian bowlers to target an 'emotional' Virat Kohli, 'If they go hard at him, if he gets in the fight...'

Meanwhile, injuries have struck the Indian camp. KL Rahul was seen in the nets after copping a blow on Day 1 of the match simulations in Perth. However, Shubman Gill is unlikely to play in the first Test of the series at Optus Stadium, Perth after a fractured thumb. In his absence, Rahul may bat at no.3 or a batter from India A can be asked to stay with the squad as Abhimanyu Easwaran has not been in good form.

ALSO READ: BCCI shares highlights of Day 2 of match simulation in Perth; Virat Kohli takes 2 catches, Yashasvi Jaiswal bowls leg spin

Cummins' record vs India

Cummins has had a good record against India picking up 50 wickets from 13 Tests at an average of 26.18 including a five-wicket haul. He is capable of making useful contributions down the order. He has scored 311 runs from 22 innings against India including a half-century.

Cummins rested for final ODI and T20I series

Cummins recently copped criticism after he was rested for the third and final ODI of the series against Pakistan which the visitors won to end their 22-year-long wait for a series win.