Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins is feeling fantastic about his game heading into the T20 World Cup. He believes his bowling is in the best shape it’s been in a decade.
Cummins is coming off a successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He feels the continuous matches in the IPL were the perfect preparation for the T20 World Cup.
“Probably as well as I have for the last 10 years really,” Cummins said about his T20 bowling. Unlike the typical T20 international schedule, which often follows Test series, the IPL provided a consistent focus on the shorter format. This allowed Cummins to hone his skills in areas crucial for T20 cricket, like yorkers and slower balls.
He emphasizes the importance of playing regularly in the same format. This consistency, according to Cummins, makes a “huge difference” in terms of developing bowling tactics. The IPL experience allowed him to experiment and find what works for him over a sustained period.
“A lot of T20 bowling in particular is about thinking through your sequencing of which ball to bowl or when,” he explained. “Even if it doesn’t work first game… you know that if you zoom out over the course of the tournament it’s going to work for you.”
While his captaincy stint with the Sunrisers Hyderabad sharpened his leadership skills, Cummins is happy to hand over the reins to his good friend Mitchell Marsh for the T20 World Cup.
“I’m obviously there to help him if he needs me but it’s Mitch’s show,” Cummins said. “I’m certainly there to help … as are a lot of the senior guys.”
With his confidence sky high and a focus on supporting his captain, Pat Cummins is set to play a key role in Australia’s quest for T20 World Cup glory.