When Pat Cummins Named Virat Kohli In His Special Middle-Order Trio

image-lr39g74yPat Cummins admires Virat Kohli (Twitter)

As a captain you want the world's best players taking the field for you. Pat Cummins is no different. The Australian skipper once laid bare his wish to field the world's finest batting trio in his middle order for Tests, including modern-day Indian legend Virat Kohli. 

Cummins and Kohli may have confronted each other in a fierce battle on the cricket pitch over the years. However, the Aussie spearhead has also held the India batting great in huge regard and respect. 


The tall speedster wasn't even Australia's captain back in time when he named Kohli as one of his preferred star middle-order batters to be included in the famed trio in his special list.

The trio also featured Australia's Kohli equivalent Steve Smith and New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson. Cummins, however, didn't put Kohli in the No.4 position, which he has owned since his idol Sachin Tendulkar's retirement over the past decade. 

When Cummins Named Kohli In Famed Trio

In a video-based question & answer session with his fans at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic back in early 2021, Cummins got asked to name his 'top three batters' in world cricket right now, who could be the ideal fit to form the strongest possible middle-order for the Aussie quick. 

"I would probably have Kane Williamson at No.3, Steve Smith at No.4, maybe Kohli at No.5. In any order, but I would have those three," Cummins had said in response during the video. 

Notably, Cummins picked Trans-Tasman rival Williamson above English great Joe Root for the No.3 slot and pushed Kohli one spot below his traditional post to ensure Smith retains his preferred No.4 slot. 

The cricketer did say, however, that the trio can bat on any spot as they might desire but he would identify them as the world's finest middle-order men in Test cricket.