Pat Cummins Won't Be Returning To India, Steve Smith To Continue As Captain In ODI Series Vs India

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith will continue to lead the team, Cricket Australia confirmed.

Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.

Source : Getty

After the demise of his mother last week, Australia skipper Pat Cummins will not come back to India for the upcoming ODI series against India. Stand-in skipper Steve Smith will continue to lead the team, Cricket Australia confirmed.

“Pat won’t be coming back, he’s still taking care of what’s happened back home,” coach Andrew McDonald said.

Pat Cummins won’t return to India for the ODI leg of the tour #INDvAUS

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 14, 2023

“Our thoughts are with Pat and his family as they go through that grieving process.”

Earlier, the Australian team was spotted wearing the black armbands to honour Cummins’s mother Maria on day 2 of the fourth Test match against India at Ahmedabad. Cricket Australia issued a statement that confined the news.  “We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight. On behalf of Australian Cricket, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pat, the Cummins family, and their friends."

Previously, Cummins went home post Australia’s loss in the second Test in Delhi to take care of his mother who was in palliative care. Cummins was named as the ODI skipper back when Aaron Finch announced his retirement last year. Australia will be locking horns against India in the first ODI of the three-match series on March 17 in Mumbai.

On Monday, the fourth Test match between India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Test series concluded in a draw after early stumps were called in the final session of Day 5 in Ahmedabad. Marnus Labuschagne(63*) and Steve Smith (10*) were unbeaten with Australia making 175/2 in their second innings. Also, India made it to the finals of WTC as Sri Lanka lost on day 5 of the Christchurch Test against New Zealand by two wickets.

The WTC final will be taking place at the Oval from June 7. Both India and Australia will face each other for the first time in Men’s cricket in about 20 years.