No real surprise that India came out really hard at MCG: Pat Cummins

Australia’s pace spearhead Pat Cummins was not surprised with India’s stunning comeback at MCG as they defeated the hosts by 8 wickets after producing an embarrassing performance in the Adelaide Test. After the Adelaide Test, it was speculated that the visitors will be smoked 4-0 as they will be without the services of their skipper Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami.

However, India defied all odds as they emerged victorious at MCG and outshined the Australian team in all the facets of the game be it bowling, batting, or fielding. Speaking about India’s performance in the second Test, Pat Cummins reckoned that they had expected something like they knew that after a big loss, India is going to bounce back stronger.

“Any side, once they have a big loss, you know they are going to come back little-bit harder. Everyone’s incredibly proud when you are playing at this level, so no real surprise that they (India) came out really hard,” Cummins said at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

Cummins also looked impressed with the debutant Shubman Gill, who had replaced Prithvi Shaw at the top of India’s batting line-up in the Melbourne game. The pacer hailed Gill for showing his calm and character and playing his natural game. Opening the innings, Gill had scored 45 and 35* runs across two innings respectively.

“Shuby (Gill) looked good in his first Test. He is quite a calm character. Looks like, similar way he wants to play, wants to take the game on, which as a bowler provides opportunities, some days it will come off, some days it won’t,” he said.

“I would say probably not” Pat Cummins reveals that they won’t be playing with two spinners in the Sydney Test.

Just try and bowl good balls – Pat Cummins

Australia has successfully managed to restrict the mainstay of India’s batting line-up Cheteshwar Pujara in the four-match series thus far. Cummins managed to scalp the wicket of Saurashtra-born thrice in the two Test matches. However, the seamer denied excruciating any special plans for Pujara as he said that his team is just focusing on delivering good balls.

“The reality is I don’t really know, just try and bowl good balls, make a decision whether to play or leave it (for him) and just try and do it as long as we can. Fortunately, it has come off so far pretty early in his innings. There is nothing drastically changed and we (are) just going to try and concentrate on what we do well for a longer (period) and so far, it has worked. I’ll be lying if I say we have got this grand plan that we have changed (for him).”

In the interaction, Cummins also reckoned that his side isn’t keen on going with two spinners in the Sydney Test, starting from January 7 as they have Marnus Labuschagne in their team who can chip in a few overs with the ball. “Not a selector, but I would say probably not, we are lucky that in our side we have got someone like Marnus (Labuschagne), he can bowl some leg-spin overs as well,” Pat Cummins concluded.