'Test cricket is the absolute No. 1 priority' - Pat Cummins opens up about his availability in IPL 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have come up with new rules and policies for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 upcoming mega auction. One of the rules says that if any overseas player opts out of the tournament after getting picked up in the auction, he'll be banned from playing in the IPL for two years.

Speaking about the rule, Australia Test captain Pat Cummins revealed that he hasn't ever opted out of the IPL after the auction and has no plans to do so in the future. However, due to his hectic schedule and his growing age, he is sceptical about managing the workload. He is fully aware of the rules that have been changed and will make decisions according to his condition. 

Cummins said while talking to The Sydney Morning Herald, "I’ll work out what this season looks like in the next little bit. There’s a bit of a tweak in the rules, but I don’t know whether that would have affected me in the past; I’ve never pulled out after the auction. But it is one more factor to consider with the IPL."

The Australian captain is quite clear about his priorities when it comes to tournaments like these. For Cummins, Test cricket comes first, and he can also leave IPL for that. "Test cricket is the absolute No. 1 priority, World Cups are right up there, and then I think you use them as your tent poles and work out what else makes sense around that. The calendar is never going to get any less busy, and I'm not going to get any younger, so these things have always been my considerations, and moving forward will become even more so," added Cummins.

Rohit Sharma set to miss 1st Test match in Australia

A recent rumour that is surfacing on the internet says that India's Test captain Rohit Sharma is set to miss the 1st Test match against Australia in Perth. As per reports, due to some personal reasons, Rohit will be missing the match. However, there is no official information about the news, and Rohit is seen practicing for the upcoming New Zealand series, which is extremely crucial. 

Rohit is the main opener for India and his absence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 will be felt. If he isn't on the team, there is a high chance that Ruturaj Gaikwad or Abhimanyu Easwaran will get an opportunity to replace him.