Perth, Australia: Captain Pat Cummins exuded confidence in his team's preparations, dismissing any apprehensions about facing new opponents in the Indian camp, attributing his reassurance to a "sense of familiarity."
The buildup leading up to the five Tests scheduled between two formidable teams has been nothing short of surreal. Days prior to the series' commencement, both sides intensified their preparations for the potential World Test Championship final.
The teams ranked first and second in the World Test Championship standings represent stark contrasts in terms of their composition. Australia maintained its core lineup, while India opted to introduce a few young talents into the mix for the challenging series.
Cummins, however, remains unperturbed by the presence of newcomers, citing his prior experience playing against and alongside them in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a testament to their talent.
During his tenure with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Cummins identified young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as a promising player. Similarly, he recognized the potential of Kolkata Knight Riders' young prodigy, Nitish Rana, during their encounter in the 2024 season.
"Look, I think you always, you know, make plans for a whole squad. I believe, especially with test teams like India, there's a lot of depth. Most of us have played in the IPL and seen how many newcomers rise to the occasion," Cummins shared with reporters before the series began.
India will be without its designated captain, Rohit Sharma, and possibly Shubman Gill, whose fitness remains uncertain following a thumb injury sustained during a practice session.
"So, yeah, they are missing a couple of players we are more familiar with, but we know whoever they choose is going to be, well, obviously, they think they're good enough for test cricket. So, yeah, we have done a bit of prep," he added.
While India's squad is a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, Australia has maintained a consistent lineup over the past two to three years.
"It has essentially been the same team for the last two or three years. So, the week leading up to it is very normal. It's all very relaxed. Everyone knows how they need to prepare. So, it's pretty seamless, you know, all the meetings, training, all those kinds of things. We have done it many times before with the same people," he explained.
"So, yeah, it's just about reaffirming what we do really well. But I think one of the strengths of our team is not only the consistency but also how well everyone gets along and how much we enjoy playing together," Cummins concluded.
