Virat Kohli Retirement Rumours: Here's What Australian Captain Pat Cummins Said

Australian captain Pat Cummins has reacted to rumours doing round the internet about Virat Kohli's retiretment. He termed Virat Kohli as a fierce competitor who adds excitement to the game, adding that he would feel "sad" if the recent Border-Gavaskar trophy marks Kohli's final tour in Australia. Despite Kohli scoring a century in the series opener, he struggled outside the off-stump and was caught in the slip cordon eight times over five Tests.

Reflecting on Kohli's performance, Cummins noted, "It's always been a wonderful contest. More than just the runs that he scored, he brings a bit of theatre to the game which is sometimes good and sometimes it can rile you up as an opposition, which I'm sure is part of his plans." He added that playing against Kohli has been enjoyable and acknowledged his significance as one of the star batters over the last decade.

Impact of Key Players

Cummins admitted that Jasprit Bumrah's absence on the final day of the series was advantageous for Australia. Bumrah had taken 32 wickets during the series, and his absence eased Australia's chase. "Every time he (Bumrah) bowled he seemed to have an impact and took some key wickets. So yeah, no doubt that (his absence) helped our chase a little bit," Cummins stated.

The Australian skipper was also surprised by Rohit Sharma's decision to exclude himself from the playing eleven due to poor form. Although he considered it an internal matter for India, Cummins remarked, "I think you're always surprised when the captain kind of doesn't play. And you know, same with Ashwin retiring, but honestly it doesn't really affect us at all."

Significance of Victory

Cummins described Australia's victory against India as significant within Indo-Australia bilateral series context. Having lost twice at home previously, this win held great importance for them. "No, it's a huge win in the context of this series. It's as big a series as you get to play at home," Cummins said.

The triumph also secured Australia's spot in the World Test Championship Final, which was a major goal for them this cycle. Cummins has been part of successful squads in various formats including T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup victories.

Future Plans

When asked about any succession plans following his achievements as captain, Cummins sidestepped by expressing his love for playing Test Cricket and working with his team and support staff. He humorously added that despite having accomplished much, he still needs to continue playing.