IND vs AUS: Steve Smith to continue captaincy for 4th Test as Pat Cummins opts to stay with mother in Australia

Pat Cummins’ mother is suffering from breast cancer and the regular skipper of team Australia have opted out from playing the last two test matches, to be with mother.

Pat Cummins has opted to stay in Australia for personal reasons, so Steve Smith will lead Australia in the fourth and final Test against India in Ahmedabad. Cummins flew to Sydney after the second Test in Delhi to be with his mother Martha, who is suffering from breast cancer and is in palliative care.

In Cummins’ absence, Smith captained Australia to a famous victory in the Indore Test.

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It is unclear whether Cummins, who was named Australia’s ODI captain last year, will be available for the three-match ODI series against India that follows the Ahmedabad Test. The fourth Test will be held from March 9 to 13, with the ODIs beginning on March 17.