Pat Cummins, the triumphant captain of Australia in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, expressed his delight at the memorable moment when he dismissed Virat Kohli in the final. Cummins, who led Australia to their sixth World Cup title, stated that he would cherish the moment of silence at the Narendra Modi Stadium for a long time.
In the title clash on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Virat Kohli was attempting to steer India out of trouble with a resilient knock of 54. However, Cummins bowled a short ball that Kohli chopped onto his stumps, and the subsequent hush in the stadium left a lasting impression on the Australian captain.
Describing the moment, Cummins shared, “I was obviously very pumped. And then we’re in the huddle after that wicket, and Steve Smith says, ‘Boys, listen to the crowd for a second.’ And we just took a moment of pause, and it was as quiet as a library; 100,000 Indians there, and it was so quiet. I’ll savour that moment for a long time.”
Cummins, known for his bold decisions, was lauded for opting to bowl first in the final and implementing innovative field placements. He also used six bowlers in as many overs to prevent India from gaining momentum in the game.
Discussing his strategic approach, Cummins stated, “Talking with the coaches over different ways to – especially in the middle overs of the ODI – create something from nothing. We’ve got plenty of all-rounders in the side, so why not have a lot of one-over spells and keep trying different ways to break up their rhythm? And yeah, it seemed to work pretty well.”
The Australian captain’s leadership has marked a remarkable year for Australia, securing victories in the Ashes, the World Test Championship, and the Men’s ODI World Cup. Cummins assumed the captaincy role in November 2021, succeeding Tim Paine.
Reflecting on his initial apprehensions about captaining the Australian team, Cummins admitted, “I was, for sure. Especially to see two really good mates having their tenures end the way they did. It felt like I was walking straight into it, a little bit.”
Despite the initial intimidation, Cummins embraced the challenge and led Australia to cricketing glory in multiple formats. His strategic brilliance and on-field performance have cemented his status as a dynamic and successful captain for the Australian cricket team.
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