Pat Cummins has announced that he will miss the final Test match against India in Ahmedabad due to personal reasons. This means that Steve Smith will continue to lead Australia as they aim to level the series in the fourth and final game.
Cummins had returned home after the first two Tests to be with his ailing mother, Maria, who is currently in palliative care. Despite Smith stepping up in his absence and leading the team to a convincing nine-wicket victory in the third Test, the Australian pace spearhead will be sorely missed in the crucial final match.
In Indore, Nathan Lyon was the hero for Australia as he claimed 11 wickets to win the Player of the Match award. Usman Khawaja and Travis Head also played pivotal roles, scoring important runs to help their team achieve victory.
Speaking after the third Test, Smith had insisted that the team was Cummins’ to lead, saying, “My time is done. It’s Pat’s team now.” However, he expressed his excitement about captaining in India, calling it his favourite place in the world to lead a team.
With the series poised at 2-1, Smith and his team will be determined to put in a strong performance and secure a series-leveling win. The fourth and final Test match is set to begin on March 9 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.