Australian skipper Pat Cummins identified Rishabh Pant as India’s “X-factor” for the the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but stressed that his team is focused on rectifying the setbacks from four consecutive series defeats to India.
“Rishabh had a great series here in Australia last time. He’s always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order,” he said.
“You never quite know what you’re going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition. And he’s always got something to say behind the stumps — he’s very funny, makes me laugh.”
Asked how the Australian bowling lineup rates talented youngsters like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Cummins said: “I’ve played a little bit against Shubman. Haven’t seen a lot of Jaiswal, just a bit in the IPL.
“But they both look like young guys who’ve scored a fair few runs in different formats. We’ll get down here and have a good look at them. But yeah, we’re still a little while away from the series, so I can’t say I’ve been planning too closely for them yet.”
Cummins also rued about missing key all-rounder Cameron Green who has been ruled out for six months after choosing to undergo surgery for a stress fracture in his lower back.
“He’s a big loss for us. Not only for his batting, but he’s probably the best gully fielder I’ve ever seen, and a great bowler we need as well, so we’re really going to miss him,” he said.
The two teams will face off in a five-match series starting November 22 in Perth. India will come into the contest with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy firmly in their grasp, having held it for nearly a decade and winning two consecutive series in Australia.
India had won the last Border-Gavaskar series in Australia 2-1 in 2020-21. Rishabh Pant’s second innings heroics of unbeaten 89 in the final Test saw India chase down 328 to seal a historic three-wicket win at the Gabba. It came after enduring a humiliating collapse in the first Test in Adelaide, where they were shot out for 36 — their lowest-ever Test score.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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