On Tuesday, October 7, Cricket Australia released the squad for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against India starting on October 19. The list misses out on several names and, most importantly, the regular ODI captain Pat Cummins.
Notably, the right-arm seamer is nursing a back injury and is facing a race against time to be fit for the Ashes later this year. The Men in Yellow will be without their regular skipper for the India challenge, and also the series will mark the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, news which usually haunts the opposition.
In Cummins' absence, Australia have Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis to assist Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Meanwhile, this article will shed light on whether Rohit and Virat will miss Pat Cummins or be happy that the Australia skipper is not a part of the squad.
Pat Cummins vs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Pat Cummins boast a decent record against India as the right-arm seamer has 28 wickets against the Men in Blue in just 21 ODIs. Despite the success against India, as also seen in the 2023 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Cummins has always been ineffective against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Before anything else, let's deep dive into Kohli and Rohit's stats against Cummins in ODIs.
Criteria
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Balls Faced
175
232
Runs scored
174
178
Outs
2
2
Strike-rate
99.4
76.6
Average
87
89
Key observations
If we look at the data carefully, then the stats can be deceiving. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have averaged 87 and 89 against Cummins, which is extra-ordinary. However, the two batters have adopted conservative approach in the past, which is to play the Australia skipper carefully and not throw their wicket away.
Virat's run-a-ball strike-rate against Cummins is a testament to his tactic of rotating strike and risk-free cricket against the Australia seamer.
Meanwhile, for Rohit Sharma, who is known to take on the bowlers, have shown respect to Cummins as he only registers a strike-rate of 76.6. Although, it is also true that the two batters have been successful in not giving away their wicket to Cummins.
Pat Cummins vs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Australia
Criteria
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Balls Faced
28
30
Runs scored
36
32
Outs
0
0
Strike-rate
128.6
106.7
Average
-
-
Key Observations
Virat has faced Pat Cummins in ODIs and has batted at a faster pace in Australia than in India. Although interestingly, Kohli has scored three centuries against the Men in Yellow in his absence.
For Rohit Sharma, he has faced Cummins a lot and scored only 32 runs, with a strike-rate of 106.7 without throwing his wicket away even once.
Conclusion
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have succeeded against Pat Cummins and his absence would certainly hurt them. The batters have excelled against Australia seamer but their strike-rate has taken a massive dip whenever they have faced Cummins.
Interestingly for Rohit and Virat Kohli, he has played with a better strike-rate against Cummins when playing in Australia. Thus, to conclude, both players would have loved to face Cummins, but in his absence, it gives them a chance to take on the bowlers like Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis.
Pat Cummins and Virat Kohli - (Source : AFP)
