Reflecting on Australia’s 2018-19 Test series loss to India, Pat Cummins revealed that it stung more than the defeat in 2020-21. The Australian captain, ready to lead his team in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month, shared his thoughts on the two series.
Recalling the events from six years ago, Cummins mentioned that Australia had been thoroughly outclassed. Although they levelled the series with a victory in Perth following a narrow 31-run loss in Adelaide, India dominated in Melbourne with a 137-run win and went on to draw the New Year’s Test, sealing a historic 2-1 series victory. Notably, it was India’s first Test series win on Australian soil. Cummins recalled that Australia had been without key players David Warner and Steve Smith, who were suspended due to the Cape Town ball-tampering incident. He reflected, "I actually felt the earlier series loss was worse. In 2020-21, the matches were closer, and India performed incredibly to win at the Gabba. But in 2018-19, we were totally outplayed, and that one hurt more."
Cummins delivered a strong bowling performance in that series, taking 14 wickets across four matches, and finishing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker.
Fast forward to 2024, and Cummins has cemented his place among Australia’s finest Test bowlers, with 269 wickets in 62 matches, including 12 five-wicket hauls. He has also proven valuable with the bat, scoring three fifties, his highest being an unbeaten 64.
The upcoming series between Australia and India is set to kick off in Perth on November 22.