Pat Cummins, the Australia bowling all-rounder, was thrilled that his team were in the rare position of leading the Twenty20 International series against India 1-0, but was wary about India’s ability to bounce back strongly.
Cummins was in the thick of things in Visakhapatnam, hitting the winning runs off the last ball and just about knocking off the 14 runs they needed in the last over. He was unbeaten on 7 off three balls with one four.
“[Leading 1-0] hasn’t happened for a while, especially overseas, especially in a place like India, which is so foreign to Australian conditions. [Winning] against one of the best sides in the world would be a huge result for us,” he said on Tuesday, 26 February, ahead of the second T20I in Bengaluru.
Cummins fully expected India to fight back hard in the series, just as they had in the opening game. Australia’s scramble at the death was thanks to a collapse from 89/3, when Glenn Maxwell was dismissed, to 113/7 in a chase of India’s modest 126/7.
“We thought we had the game sewn up last time, and like all the really good sides, they just fought their way back. We know [Wednesday] night, we have to play really well. They’re going to come back and play really well like they always do.
“Let’s see how we go, but to be one-up in an away series, we haven’t been in this position for a while, so it’s great.”
Cummins is happy with where he is at. “Really happy with how my game is going,” he said. “So many things have fallen into place. Obviously, there is a bit of luck as well. I am playing consistent cricket and I am able to concentrate well on my skills and have got a lot of confidence.
“I haven’t played too much white-ball cricket and I am looking forward to the challenge. I have got lots to learn, like taking wickets in white-ball cricket and bowling in the death overs.
