Australia's 2023 ODI World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins, is likely to miss the upcoming white-ball series against India, which is scheduled to start from October 19. The 32-year-old all-rounder has recently undergone several scans, where the results of his back scans don't paint a promising picture. Pat Cummins in currently recovering from an injury that he got during the Test series against West Indies.
He is likely to miss the T20Is against New Zealand and the subsequent eight-match series against India. Team India are scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against Australia, followed by a three-match ODI series, which is scheduled to start from October 19.
As per The Sydney Morning Herald report, Cummins underwent scans on Monday, and consultations on the results, with CA's chief medical officer Dr John Orchard, team doctor Leigh Golding, and physio Nick Jones, are expected to take some time. Depending on the conditions of his injury, Cummins will be given rest accordingly.
"Depending on the seriousness of Cummins' back trouble, he may miss all the white ball games that precede the first Ashes Test in Perth in late November and could also need to avoid playing a Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales. As it is, he will be missing from the Twenty20 squad that will be named on Tuesday to tour New Zealand," the report stated.
Cummins is all but ruled out of the New Zealand T20I series, which will start from October 1, and Australia will face India on 19 October. Cricket Australia and selectors are unlikely to rush Pat Cummins as Australia will look to defend the Ashes urn. England has yet to win an Ashes series Down Under since Andrew Strauss' historic 3-1 triumph back in 2010-11.
"There may be some concern among Australia’s selectors and medical staff about the prospect of Cummins pulling up sore after a tour in which he bowled relatively few overs, particularly during the West Indies leg on a trio of lively pitches," the report added.
India's batting duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will also be seen in the action in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia. This will be their first outing after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai.