We will need sound plans to tackle Rishabh Pant: Cummins

Australia find themselves in a place they have never been before after back-to-back series defeats at home against India. One man who broke their dreams single-handedly was Rishabh Pant, top-scoring for India in the last series in Australia with 247 runs in five innings, at an average of 68.50. 

The left-hander played an aggressive brand of cricket, striking at 69.89, putting Australia under immense pressure. He also played a vital role in India’s historic win at Gabba. Chasing 328, Pant scored an 181-ball 89 with ten boundaries. 

Pant will yet again be one of India's biggest hope in the upcoming five-match Test series. Australian captain Pat Cummins admitted to it by saying that they need ‘sound plans’ to tackle him. 

“Yeah, Pant is someone who always moves the game on pretty quickly, so for some of the players, you have to have some sound plans, too. He's played well, he had a good series out here in Australia next time. So yeah, we know he can be dangerous when he gets going, so [we'll] try and have some good plans and hope they come off,” Cummins told Hindustan Times. 

Unlike the previous tour, the Australian pacers prepared themselves for the five-match series, keeping an eye on maintaining their fitness levels. That was one of the criticisms for Australia last time around when their pacers went unchanged across the four Tests. 

“Look, we're pretty happy with our preparation. Most of the guys have played some Sheffield Shield and some of the guys have had a bit of a break to freshen up. A 5 Test match series is quite taxing, so I always have the preference to come into the series, even if it's a little bit underdone. I always take that as a preference as opposed to coming to the first Test feeling like you've played too much,” Cummins said. 

Since Cameron Green was ruled out with injury, Steve Smith has moved back to his favourite No.4 position, where he has played all his Test career, scoring 5966 runs at an average of 61.50. 

“Smithy wanted to try out opening last year or early this year. We thought that set up the team quite well. With Cam Green injured and going to miss this summer, I think it was time to revisit what we thought was our best batting line-up. Smithy, being the team man he is, was happy to slot back down at number 4,” he stated. 

After back-to-back series defeats, there is a lot of pressure on Australia to win against India at home, and Cummins reckoned that it will really ‘heighten’ the attention for the series. 

“I think there's pressure every time you play a Test match, particularly at home. I think most of the Australian crowd expects us to perform well at home, and we do as players as well. So, not having success over the last couple of series against India, I think, really heightens the attention the series will get. But it's not pressure that we're not used to. We've seen it all before.”

The first Test of the five-match Test series will begin on November 22 (Friday) in Perth.

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