Australia Test captain Pat Cummins recently expressed his admiration for the Indian cricket team, stating that they have been their most challenging opponents on Australian soil in the last five years. Despite Australia’s formidable record at home, India managed to achieve historic victories in the red-ball format during the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy and the 2020-21 series. Cummins praised India’s resilience and their ability to defeat Australia in their own backyard.
Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the Indian team created history during the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy by becoming the first Indian side to win a Test series in Australia, securing a memorable 2-1 victory. No other team has managed to register a Test win in Australia in the last six years, let alone win a series. Despite a demoralizing defeat in the opening match of the 2020-21 series in Adelaide, India bounced back under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership and clinched a remarkable victory at the Gabba in Brisbane.
India’s win at the Gabba was particularly noteworthy, as the inexperienced side defied the odds and ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue. Led by the outstanding performances of Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Rishabh Pant, India successfully chased down a challenging target of 328 runs, securing a historic victory. The remarkable comeback demonstrated the resilience and fighting spirit of the Indian team.
Acknowledging India’s exceptional performances in recent years, Pat Cummins admitted that India has been a formidable opponent for Australia at home. He specifically mentioned that only Rohit Sharma’s team, led by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, has managed to trouble the Australian team during their tours. Cummins commended the Indian players for being in top form and delivering impressive performances.
Although Australia finished at the top of the table in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 cycle, they missed out on qualifying for the final due to the cancellation of the South Africa Test series amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Cummins expressed his disappointment at the decision but stated that it has motivated the team to perform well in future tournaments. He believes that Australia deserves a place in the WTC final based on their consistent performances.