‘Indian player hota to iske liye bhi gaali padti’- Twitter reacts as Australia captain Pat Cummins leaves India Test series to be with ailing mother

Australia’s star fast bowler and current captain Pat Cummins has announced that he will miss the third Test against India in Indore starting on March 1. Cummins has decided to stay back in Sydney with his ailing mother, and Steve Smith will lead the Australian side in his absence for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Cummins had flown back home after India defeated Australia in the second Test in Delhi by six wickets. He was initially supposed to return before the third Test match, but now he has decided to stay back with his family and support them in this difficult time.

“I have decided against returning to India at this time. I feel I am best being here with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding,” said Cummins.

Steve Smith to take over as captain

The Australian team is currently training in Delhi and will leave for Indore on Sunday. Smith has already rejoined the team in Delhi, following his short break in Dubai.

It will be the third time that Smith will lead the Test side since his reinstatement as vice-captain in late 2021 when Cummins took over from Tim Paine. Smith has filled in as skipper for two Tests that Cummins has been unavailable for – both of which have been in Adelaide over the past two summers.

Smith was captain for 34 Tests between 2014 and 2018, including Australia’s most recent Test tour of India in 2017, a controversy-marred campaign in which Smith dominated with the bat, scoring three centuries.

Australia has already lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as India won the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi quite comfortably. Smith’s immediate task will be to stop India from inflicting a clean sweep, which could hurt Australia’s chances of making it to the World Test Championship.

Cummins is also supposed to lead Australia in the three-match ODI series against India starting March 17. The Australian think tank is hopeful of Cummins’ return before the final Test in Ahmedabad, but if his mother’s health doesn’t improve, then Smith will continue to lead the side.

Cummins’ decision to stay back with his family during this difficult time highlights the importance of prioritizing family and loved ones during a pandemic. We wish his mother a speedy recovery and hope to see Cummins back on the field soon.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Pat Cummins missing out from 3rd Test: 

https://twitter.com/the_yuvraj012/status/1628999707359072257

Yahan bhth ke bhi kon sa teer marna tha usne

— Sheikh Aadil Bashir (@sheikhaadilbas3) February 24, 2023

https://twitter.com/Vivvvek_1/status/1629007244951015424

Nothing is more important than a mother's health we all are with Cummins may everything go well❤️

— Sahil (@kohlibhakt018) February 24, 2023

Oh, this is desperately sad. I don't know how old Pat Cummins' mother is, but he's only 29 which is far too young to lose a parent. Awful, awful stuff. https://t.co/0dMbF0s10A

— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) February 24, 2023

Some of the commentary around Pat Cummins has been outrageously yuck and you all need to go outside

— Tom Carpenter (@Carpo34) February 24, 2023

Lost two matches and ran away in bgt in the most crucial moment we have seen this before

— ً (@MCFCdrax) February 24, 2023

https://twitter.com/b_vihan/status/1629001136182071296