'It is a different role...': Pat Cummins explains reason behind Steve Smith's T20 World Cup snub

Australia pacer Pat Cummins revealed why Steve Smith was excluded from the side's 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. This comes after the latter proved to be highly impressive for the Sydney Sixers in the latest season of the Big Bash League (BBL). He scored 299 runs in just six innings, including a century and two fifties.

Cummins' explanation for Smith's snub

Cummins described Smith's form in the BBL as "phenomenal", but remarked that the team already has quite a strong batting lineup. He also expressed faith in Matt Renshaw, who made his T20I debut in Australia's recent series against Pakistan and replaced Matthew Short from the squad for the T20 World Cup.

"He's (Smith) been unbelievable. What he did at the back end of the Big Bash was phenomenal but Matt Renshaw's also done really well. It's a bit of a different role to where Steve normally plays. What it takes to bat at five or six, you're trying to go from the first ball of your innings, it's very different to walking out there and opening with only two fielders out," Cummins said.

"No doubt, the really good players are adaptive and can almost bat anywhere, but it's a pretty strong batting line-up when you look at all the different roles," he added.

Smith still in with a chance?

Despite not being selected in Australia's final squad, the door still hasn't closed for Smith as selector Tony Dodemaide had confirmed that he could still get added to the team if a player picks up an injury during the tournament. The 36-year-old has quite a bit of experience when it comes to the shortest format and has played 67 matches for the Baggy Greens in the format. He has a total of 1094 runs under his belt, including five half-centuries.

Meanwhile, Australia have been placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside the likes of Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. They will begin their campaign with the clash against Ireland on February 11 at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo.

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Australia's squad for T20 World Cup: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.