Last year, Australian captain Pat Cummins said that he wants to silence the Ahmedabad crowd and he succeeded. Australia beat Rohit Sharma’s India to win the ODI World Cup 2023. A year later, he wants to do the same to Rishabh Pant, the free-flowing Indian wicketkeeper-batter who is capable of destroying and changing the course of a Test in a single session.
"He's someone that has a big influence in a couple of series and we have got to try and keep him quiet," Cummins said on Star Sports.
Pant’s record vs Australia
Pant has played seven Tests on Australian soil. The southpaw has scored 624 runs from 12 innings at an average of 62.40. He has one century and two fifties against Australia in the longest format of the game. Moreover, he has scored runs at a strike rate of 72.13 against defending champions of World Test Championship (WTC).
Cummins used to Pant’s unorthodox shots
Cummins knows that Pant is not a batter who only relies on technique and often dares to play outrageous shots like reverse slaps off fast bowlers.
"Someone like Rishabh Pant might play a reverse slap and it's an incredible shot, and that's just part of who he is. I think we've become a bit more accustomed," he said.
Pant’s comparison with Head, Marsh
Cummins compared Pant's ultra-aggressive approach to his teammates Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh.
"Every team has one or two of those players who can take the game on. You know, we've got Travis Head and Mitch Marsh and those guys. I think with those guys, you know that they're going to be aggressive. If you miss your area a little bit, they're going to take the game on," the 31-year-old added.
The 31-year-old Cummins has 50 wickets from 13 Tests against India including a five-wicket haul. Cummins-led Australia will aim at breaking India’s dominance in Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Australians have not won a Test series against India since the 2014-15 tour.
The Test series will begin on November 22 at Perth Stadium.
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