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[Saba Sports News] On the brink of a second World title in 2023, Australian captain Pat Cummins displayed a calm and confident demeanor before the crucial match against India, which could shape his legacy. Despite early setbacks in the tournament, Australia has rallied to win eight consecutive matches, while India has won ten.
Cummins, indifferent to pitch conditions in Ahmedabad, focused on the match experience, particularly facing over a hundred thousand Indian fans, which he anticipates as a lifetime highlight. He acknowledged India’s strong performance but expressed confidence in Australia’s ability to compete, having regularly played and succeeded against India in India.
Cummins praised his opening bowlers, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, for their pivotal roles, especially their performance in the semi-final against South Africa. He reflected on Australia’s earlier World Cup encounter with India, noting their close competition despite not playing their best.
The Australian captain emphasized the importance of embracing the challenge of quieting the partisan crowd, aiming to end the day with no regrets. He candidly admitted to doubts after early losses but praised his team’s flawless recovery to reach the semifinals.
Cummins also highlighted that Australia hasn’t yet played their best cricket, finding ways to win crucial matches. Regarding team selection, he mentioned considering Marcus Stoinis as an option for a batting-friendly wicket.
Cummins acknowledged the significance of 2023, with major victories like the World Test Championship and The Ashes, and expressed pride in his team’s morale and performance. He noted the impact of temperature and dew in Ahmedabad, factors that could influence the game’s latter stages.
Finally, Cummins dismissed any notion of being favorites, considering the final against India an even match. He highlighted the experience within the Australian squad, with many players having World Cup victories under their belt, ready to take on the challenge bravely.
“I think you’ve got to embrace it. The crowd’s obviously going to be very one-sided but it’s also in sport there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent and that’s the aim for us tomorrow. Yeah, you’ve just got to embrace every part of it, every part of a final even you know in the lead-up there’s going to be noise and more people and interest and you just can’t get overwhelmed. You got to be up for it, you got to love it and just know whatever happens it’s fine but you just want to finish the day with no regrets.”