Australian skipper Pat Cummins is determined to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from India in the upcoming five-match Test series, which begins on November 22 in Perth. Cummins acknowledges that Australia has struggled against India in recent Test series, but he is confident that his team can turn things around on home soil.
“We haven’t had a lot of luck against India over the last few Test series, but we always pride ourselves on playing well here in Australia,” Cummins said. “We have really high expectations when we play Test cricket in Australia, so anytime we don’t win down here, of course, you look at those series a bit more closely.”
The last Test series between Australia and India in Australia was a particularly tough one for the hosts, with India winning 2-1. Rishabh Pant’s heroics in the final Test at the Gabba sealed a historic three-wicket win for India.
“The last series, in particular, was a really tough one,” Cummins said. “It went right down to that last session at the Gabba, and unfortunately, we couldn’t pull it off. A lot of the guys in the team are the same as those who played in that series, and we’re here to make amends.”
Cummins identified Pant as India’s “X-factor,” 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,” Cummins said. “He’s always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order. You never quite know what you’re going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition.”
Australia will face Pakistan in a white-ball series before the much-anticipated Test series against India. It will be the first Test series between India and Australia comprising five matches since 1992.
