It might make a bit of a difference: Pat Cummins on Virat Kohli returning after the first Test match

Team India’s tour of Australia will kick-off on 27 November with the ODI series. As the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli enters a new phase in life, he will be taking paternity leave after the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

During an interaction, Australian pacer, Pat Cummins spoke about how important Virat Kohli is to the Indian team and also what this could mean to the opposition.

“To be honest, we haven’t spoken too much about it. I saw the announcement in the media. To be honest, as a captain, obviously, he’ll be missed but the Indian cricket side always finds some incredible batsman, who outside the team, is just waiting for an opportunity, so maybe that new opportunity will be the beginning of someone else’s career,” Cummins said in a media interaction.

On Virat Kohli’s absence in the Indian dugout

“It might make a bit of a difference. I am not sure it’s gonna be a deciding factor in the series but to be honest, us players haven’t spoken too much about it,” he added.

A chance to play the best brand of cricket against a formidable opposition

“We have got a lot to prove. India played really well here a couple of years ago. We as an Aussie cricket team, and as long as I have grown up watching them play, pride ourselves on winning at home, especially Test matches. So, to lose that one, I feel like we have to make amends this summer,” Cummins said.

On Smith and Warner’s return and also the inclusion of Labuschagne

“If I look back at that series, obviously Smith and Warner (are back) but obviously you’ve got Marnus (Labuschagne) who now is one of the best batters in the world. Hopefully, we’re better equipped than we were a couple of years ago. But India are much the same. They have got the same line-up, same high-quality players, so it’s gonna be a great series,” he added.