WATCH: Pat Cummins turns into prime Glenn McGrath to dismiss Rishabh Pant in Perth

Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the battle of wits against Rishabh Pant during the opening Test in Perth. India’s wicketkeeper batter was playing a lone battle with the bat as India were left in tatters in the early part of the game. Just a few overs earlier, Pant had played an outrageous scoop shot off Cummins for a huge six. 

Pat Cummins decided to focus on the off-stump line and tucked Pant for room. The Australian captain bowled at the single length as each ball was left alone by Pant who shouldered arms to the ball. After keeping the batter for four balls, Cummins pitched the ball further up the stumps as Pant went for a flick and only edged the catch to Smith. 

Too good, Pat Cummins!

Mike Hussey explains the Aussie captain's set-up of Rishabh Pant #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/bIfdGUqfwR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2024

It was a moment in the game as Pant and Nitish Reddy had added 48 runs for the 7th wicket. At one stage, India were placed at 73/6 with Washington Sundar out for 4 to Mitchell Marsh. Team India were bowled out for a mere 150 in the first innings as Josh Hazlewood picked 4/29. India got the wicket of Nathan McSweeney early before Virat Kohli dropped an easy catch with Marnus Labuschagne yet to get off the mark. 

Pat Cummins praises Nitish Reddy ahead of test debut

Australian skipper Pat Cummins was speaking to the media on Thursday before the start of the opening Test in Perth. The 31-year-old heaped lavish praise on young Test debut Nitish Reddy with whom he has played in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Speaking to the media Cummins as quoted by Indian Express said, “A great young kid, loved playing alongside Nitish for Sunrisers (Hyderabad). Great young guy starting his professional career this season. Impressed by how he went about his work. He didn’t bowl as much as he potentially could have but impressed with what we saw. Looks like he can swing the ball a little bit.”

Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel while speaking to the media had said, “Any team in the world always wanted the all-rounder to take that load off your fast bowlers, just to give them an extra bit of breathing time. So how we use him, how Jasprit is going to use him, with maybe the spinner, to give himself, whoever’s going to be the other quicks, time to catch their breath a little bit is going to be important. He’s a guy that is a player you can keep your eye on in this series.”