Due to family obligations, Pat Cummins will miss the third Test against Australia; Steve Smith will take the lead. Australia

The third Test of the Border Gavaskar series between Australia and India will be without Australian captain Pat Cummins, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Cummins will stay in his hometown to attend to his mother’s health. The third Test will be captained by Australian batting great Steve Smith without the bowler.

During the second Test in Delhi, Pat Cummins took a flight to Sydney and made the decision to stay with his dying mother Gillian for an additional week. Originally scheduled to return for the third Test in Indore, which begins on March 1, the pacer never showed up. Unfortunately, due to Steve Smith taking over as captain for the third Test, the Australian team would be without the services of their important skipper.

“Because my mother is unwell and receiving palliative care, I have opted against going back to India at this time. Being here with my family is where I feel at my best. I appreciate all of Cricket Australia’s and my teammates’ unwavering support. I appreciate your patience, Cummins remarked on Friday.
On Sunday, the Australian team will depart for Indore.
After losing the first two Test matches, the visitors are under a lot of pressure, and the absence of their captain will further reduce their hopes of an implausible comeback. Although there has been no indication on how long Cummins will be out, he may miss the fourth Test in Ahmedabad as well, leaving his vice skipper Steve Smith in charge.

Following a three-day break in Dubai with his wife, Smith returned to the team on Thursday. After learning of Cummins’ choice, Smith saw head coach Andrew McDonald at their hotel on Friday before departing for Indore on Sunday. After Cummins was forced to withdraw due to injury for the second Test against the West Indies in Adelaide in December 2022, the No. 2 Test batsman in the world captained the team.