Cricket

Ahead of the Indian cricket team's crucial Tour of Australia, the recent loss to New Zealand at home has sparked concerns about the team's composition. One player who is likely to be omitted from the touring party is veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara.Pujara, known for his resilience and ability to grind out runs, has a proven track record in Australia. However, he has been overlooked for international matches since June 2023. Despite his absence, Pujara has continued to excel in domestic cricket, recently surpassing Brian Lara's tally of 65 first-class centuries.Australian captain Pat Cummins expressed his admiration for Pujara, acknowledging his ability to outlast opponents. Cummins also highlighted the growing rivalry between India and Australia, comparing it to the iconic Ashes series."It's going to be a shame that he (Pujara) is not there, but I'm sure they'll pick someone else who's in a similar kind of style," Cummins said. "It was always great playing (against) Pujara. He was one of those guys who never really felt like he was getting away from you. But then he would (just) bat, bat, bat and bat."Cummins also emphasized the significance of the India-Australia rivalry, stating that it is now on par with the Ashes. "I do think it is," he said. "Particularly, after the Indian team won the last couple of series at (our) home. We've had more success against England over the past decade. I think it's right up there."Pujara's absence from the Tour of Australia will be a significant loss for India. His experience and ability to anchor the innings would have been invaluable in the challenging conditions Down Under. However, the team management will have to make a decision based on current form and the need to inject fresh blood into the squad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has made strategic decisions regarding player retentions ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. The franchise has reportedly identified Heinrich Klaasen as their primary retention, followed by Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma.Klaasen, a South African wicketkeeper-batter, is set to receive INR 23 crore as the top-earning player. Cummins, the Australian all-rounder and former SRH captain, will receive INR 18 crore, while Sharma, the Indian all-rounder, will get INR 14 crore.Despite being SRH's highest-paid player last year, Cummins has reportedly taken a selfless approach by agreeing to Klaasen's higher salary. This decision reflects Cummins' commitment to team success over personal gain.The IPL allows franchises to retain up to six players, but SRH is opting for just three retentions. This strategy will give them a significant advantage in the auction, as they will have a larger purse to acquire new talent.Cummins' leadership and collaboration with coach Daniel Vettori have been instrumental in SRH's recent success. Under their guidance, young players like Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy have flourished.SRH is expected to finalize the retentions of Travis Head and Reddy soon. The franchise will have one Right-to-Match (RTM) card available at the auction, which can be used to retain an uncapped Indian player.Pat Cummins will continue as SRH captain in 2025, leading the team's charge for another successful season.

Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, has emphasized the importance of neutralizing India's pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, in order to secure victory in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins acknowledged Bumrah's exceptional bowling skills and recognized that silencing him would significantly enhance Australia's chances of winning the series.Cummins also expressed confidence in Australia's ability to draw inspiration from their recent triumphs in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals against India. He believes that these victories will provide a psychological edge for the Australian team.Despite India's dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy over the past decade, Cummins remains optimistic about Australia's prospects. He highlighted the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, India's former No. 3 batter, as a potential advantage for Australia. Cummins described Pujara as a "real Test cricketer" whose stoic resistance had been a formidable challenge in previous encounters.Cummins also acknowledged the growing rivalry between India and Australia, comparing it to the iconic Ashes series. He noted that the expansion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to a five-Test format further intensifies the competition.Cummins praised India's reputation for winning away from home, recognizing their exceptional ability to adapt to different conditions. He emphasized that defeating India in their own backyard would be a significant achievement for Australia.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Retain Klaasen, Cummins, and Sharma Ahead of IPL 2025Sunrisers Hyderabad has made its first three retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen topping the list. According to ESPNcricinfo, Klaasen will receive INR 23 crore as the franchise's highest-paid retained player.Australian allrounder Pat Cummins, who captained Sunrisers in 2024, has been retained for INR 18 crore, while Indian allrounder Abhishek Sharma has been retained for INR 14 crore.Klaasen had a stellar IPL 2024 season, amassing 479 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 171.07. He was Sunrisers' second-highest scorer behind Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Sharma, who had the highest strike rate among the top-ten run-scorers last season, scored 484 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 204.21.Cummins led Sunrisers to the IPL 2024 final, where they narrowly lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. His leadership and all-round abilities were crucial to the team's success.Sunrisers are also expected to retain Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy soon. The IPL has set October 31 as the deadline for retentions ahead of the mega auction.The retentions of Klaasen, Cummins, and Sharma signal Sunrisers' intent to build a strong team for IPL 2025. Klaasen's power-hitting and Sharma's all-round abilities will provide the team with a solid foundation, while Cummins' leadership and experience will be invaluable.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins will lead the team in the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan, while Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head will miss the three-match contest due to paternity leave. Cummins will prepare for the Test summer by gaining match experience in the 50-over format.The 14-man squad announced on Monday includes Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, but the bowling attack is likely to be rotated as both bowlers aim to play at least one Sheffield Shield match before the ODIs. Marcus Stoinis returns to the ODI side after a hiatus since the 2023 World Cup, while Josh Inglis is the sole wicketkeeper in the squad.The absence of Head and Marsh opens up opportunities for new opening combinations, with Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk likely to partner throughout the series. Cooper Connolly, who made his ODI debut in England, is the only player named in both the ODI and Australia A squads.Australia's ODI series against Pakistan will serve as preparation for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February. The team will aim to build on their successful ODI campaign in the UK, where they overcame illness and injury challenges.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that representing his country in Test cricket remains his top priority, while acknowledging the need to balance his commitments with the Indian Premier League (IPL).Cummins, who led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final, is aware of the new IPL rules that could impact his future participation in the tournament. Under the revised regulations, overseas players who do not register for the player auction in a particular season become ineligible to participate in the following year's auction. Additionally, players who make themselves unavailable after being picked at the auction face a two-season ban."I'll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There's a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don't know whether that would have affected me in the past, I've never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald.Despite the potential implications, Cummins remains steadfast in his commitment to Test cricket. "Test cricket is the absolute No.1 priority, world cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that," he said.Cummins acknowledged the demanding nature of the international cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments. "The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been considerations, and moving forward will become even more so. But needless to say, playing cricket for Australia, particularly Test matches, is my number one job and priority," he added.Looking ahead to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Cummins expects a fiercely contested series. "The couple of home series I've played against India there's always an element of attrition to them. The last series came down to the last session at the Gabba on the last day of the last Test match," he said."That's a good thing to keep in mind; it is a long series, and it might be tightly held until the last game, so you've got to manage your resources throughout," the Australia captain added.

Australia's Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, has expressed his empathy for teammate Cameron Green, who is currently sidelined with back stress fractures. Green has opted for surgery to stabilize his condition, unlike Cummins, who chose not to undergo surgery for a similar issue.Cummins acknowledged the challenges faced by the 25-year-old all-rounder, who aspires to excel in both batting and bowling. "Really sympathetic," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald. "We want him bowling, Cam wants to be bowling, and he has a long career ahead of him. So it's about trying to place Cam the cricketer in the best position he can be to have the career that he's hoping for. He's young, so I'm sure he'll be right in the long run."Cummins highlighted the inherent risks of fast bowling, acknowledging the injuries that often accompany the pursuit of speed. "Bowling and trying to bowl fast is unfortunately fraught with injuries. In some ways, the hardest thing is missing cricket and seeing games go by that you could have been part of, but also it can be a pretty lonely way back," Cummins noted.Reflecting on the rehabilitation process, Cummins said, "You don't just set the clock and suddenly, you're back. There is a bit of work to get back, rehabbing and building up as well. It's always a challenge."Understanding Green's predicament, Cummins added, "It looks like Greeny is going to have that situation, which is not uncommon for him unfortunately, so he knows what needs to be done, but that doesn't make it any easier."Cummins' words underscore the support within the Australian team for Green as he navigates this challenging period in his career, aiming to return stronger and continue contributing as a key player for the team.

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has emphasized that his primary focus remains on representing his country in the longest format of the game. While acknowledging his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Cummins has yet to make a decision regarding his involvement in the upcoming season.Cummins, who was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a record-breaking Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, led the team to the final. With the mega auction for the IPL 2025 season approaching, teams will be allowed to retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.Cummins is currently focused on the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. He is aware of the new IPL regulations that prohibit foreign players from registering in the following year's auction if they withdraw after the auction."I'll work out in the next little bit what this season looks like. There's a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don't know whether that would have affected me in the past, I've never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald.Cummins reiterated that Test cricket remains his top priority, followed by World Cups. He acknowledged the increasing demands of the cricket calendar and the need to prioritize his commitments."Test cricket is the absolute No.1 priority, world cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that. The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been considerations, and moving forward will become even more so. But needless to say, playing cricket for Australia, particularly Test matches, is my number one job and priority," he added.

Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins anticipates a grueling battle against India in the upcoming five-match series, as the hosts seek redemption after consecutive home series defeats. The series, commencing on November 22 in Perth, will be a test of endurance, according to Cummins."The previous home series against India have always been characterized by attrition," Cummins remarked. "The last series came down to the final session at the Gabba on the final day of the final Test."Cummins, who missed Australia's recent white-ball tour of England and Scotland, will enter the series well-rested. However, the team will be without fast bowler Cameron Green due to back surgery. Cummins expressed confidence in Green's return, emphasizing the importance of managing his workload for a long-term career."We want him bowling, Cam wants to be bowling, and he has a long career ahead of him," Cummins said. "It's about trying to place Cam the cricketer in the best position he can be to have the career that he's hoping for."Cummins' own workload management has extended his captaincy tenure beyond his initial expectations. "Maybe I can go a little bit longer than I first thought," he said. "I feel like I can manage a lot more than what I did back then, just by getting better at it and having some wonderful people around that help as well."The upcoming series holds immense significance for Australia, as they have not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade. Cummins and his team will be determined to break the losing streak and reclaim the coveted trophy.