Cricket

Pat Cummins' Humble Act Highlights Australia's Winning CultureFormer Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has hailed the "culture" of the Australian cricket team after Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins was seen carrying drinks for his teammates during their ICC T20 World Cup opener against Oman.Cummins, who led Australia to victory in the ICC World Test Championship and ICC Cricket World Cup last year, was not included in the playing XI for the match against Oman. However, he showed his commitment to the team by carrying drinks for his teammates.Pathan expressed his admiration for Australia's decision to bench their multi-world championship-winning captain in favor of T20 specialist Nathan Ellis. He noted that Cummins' willingness to carry drinks despite his status as a World Cup-winning skipper demonstrated the team's strong culture."The CULTURE," Pathan tweeted.In the match itself, Australia was restricted to 50/3 at one point but recovered to post a competitive total of 164/5 thanks to half-centuries from Marcus Stoinis and David Warner. Oman's bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batsmen, with Mehran Khan being the pick of the bowlers with 2/38.In the run-chase, Oman kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could only manage 125/9 in their 20 overs. Stoinis was the standout performer with the ball for Australia, taking 3/19, while Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, and Mitchell Starc also picked up two wickets each.Stoinis' all-round performance earned him the 'Player of the Match' award.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a global cricketing extravaganza that attracts the world's top players and coaches. Among them is Justin Langer, former coach of the Lucknow Super Giants. Langer's experience in India has left him awestruck by the unparalleled hero worship surrounding MS Dhoni."It's extraordinary," Langer exclaimed on BBC Sport's cricket podcast. "I've heard about it, but when you witness it firsthand, it's unbelievable. In Lucknow, our stadium was packed with 50,000 fans, and 48,000 of them were wearing Dhoni's number seven jersey."Langer's observations extend beyond Dhoni's popularity. He notes that the hero worship in India is a double-edged sword. "I saw the flip side with Rohit Sharma," he said. "He's a huge hero, but when he stepped down as Mumbai Indians captain, he was booed every game. It's sad to see, but it's a reflection of the intense passion and expectations of Indian cricket fans."Despite the occasional negativity, Langer remains impressed by Dhoni's humility and leadership style. "When he walks onto the ground, he's so calm and composed," Langer said. "It's a quality that's becoming more prevalent in captains around the world."Langer's insights offer a glimpse into the unique cricketing culture of India. The hero worship of players like Dhoni is a testament to the sport's deep-rooted significance in the country. However, it also highlights the challenges that come with such intense scrutiny and the need for players to maintain their composure amidst the whirlwind of adulation and criticism.