In a revealing discussion with ‘The Age’, Australian cricket star Pat Cummins recounted the profound stillness that enveloped the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium—a silence that could only be likened to the quietude of a library. This serene moment followed the fall of Virat Kohli’s wicket during the pivotal ODI World Cup final. Indian cricket enthusiasts, who had encapsulated the stadium with their passionate cheers, found themselves in stunned silence as Australia toppled a key pillar of the Indian batting lineup.
“We’re in a huddle after the wicket of Kohli in the final & (Steve) Smith says, ‘Boys, listen to the crowd.’ And we just took a moment of pause, and it was as quiet as a library, 100,000-plus Indians there & it was so quiet. I’ll savor that moment for a long time,” Cummins shared with a hint of relish.
Securing their sixth title, the Australian team demonstrated their dominant cricket prowess by overcoming India with a six-wicket victory. Cummins, facing ABC news, admitted that although confronted with a “sea of blue”—an overwhelming majority of Indian supporters—he was resolute in his desire to silence the crowd, a sentiment he had expressed during a pre-match press conference.
“I told myself, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so whatever happens today, this is a special day. We try to soak it in. It was just a sea of blue. It was not like an IPL crowd, where you can spot people wearing casual dress. Everyone was wearing the blue Indian jersey. I was just thinking that it will be really satisfying if we shut them all up,” Cummins commented, emphasizing his determined mindset.
Delving into the strategic choices made that day, Cummins also illuminated his decision to field first after winning the toss—a divergence from traditional cricket tactics that tend to favor batting in final matches. Yet, this tactical move aligned with recent patterns, where Cummins noted, “the last five ODI finals have been won by the team bowling first.”
Conversations with other team members confirmed the intuition that day favored bowlers. “Everyone was pretty sure it just felt like a bowling day,” Cummins explained.
Having captained Australia to both World Test Championship and ODI World Cup triumphs in 2023, Cummins revealed his and his team’s continued eagerness to engage the forthcoming Australian Summer, starting with a Test series against Pakistan on December 14.
Even against the backdrop of a grueling season, Cummins was forthright about his approach to player fitness and rest, stating, “Realistically, the word rest and rotated gets thrown around a lot, but you never miss a Test if you are fully fit.” He expounded on this, acknowledging the inevitability of minor injuries for fast bowlers but maintaining that it should not deter their commitment to the game.
The conversation inevitably veered towards Cummins’ public stances on societal matters, which have not been without criticism. Since becoming captain, Cummins has faced backlash for what some critics have deemed “too woke” attitudes.
“There’s some things that you don’t want to budge on,” Cummins expressed in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. “You can’t just leave your values at the door.”
Cummins conceded that such criticism can be burdensome. “Sometimes it’s frustrating,” he remarked. “You feel like you want to explain why you did what you did. But if you did that every time, you wouldn’t have a minute left in your day.”
As the dust settles on their World Cup victory, Cummins’ reflections offer an insight into the compelling psychological and strategic warfare that underpins international cricket. It is clear that for players like Cummins, the quest for glory on the pitch is paralleled by a resolve to adhere to personal beliefs off it, resonating a message far beyond the boundaries of the cricket field.