Pat Cummins “fairly disappointed” on Australia’s Defeat against India in BGT Series Opener

Australia captain Pat Cummins described the 295-run loss to India in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Perth as “fairly disappointing,” admitting that not much went right for his side. Despite their strong Test record at Perth, Australia struggled against a formidable Indian side and now trail 1-0 in the five-match series.

Cummins acknowledged that his team was unable to capitalize on key moments during the game, particularly after bowling India out for 150 in the first innings. He highlighted the collapse late on Day 1, where the Australian batting lineup crumbled to 67/7, as a pivotal turning point.

“We thought our prep leading into it was good. Everyone was firing. It’s just one of those games… not much went right. Late on Day 1, if we had got through that period, things would’ve been different on Day 2,” Cummins said during the post-match presentation.

India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and debutant Harshit Rana, rattled Australia, restricting them to 104 in their first innings. Bumrah’s five-wicket haul set the tone, while Siraj and Rana provided excellent support.

India capitalized on their 46-run lead with an exceptional batting display in their second innings. KL Rahul (77), Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), and Virat Kohli (100*) turned the game into a one-sided affair, piling up 487/6 before declaring. Kohli’s century ended a 16-inning drought, while Jaiswal’s masterclass left the Australian bowlers exhausted.

Set an improbable target of 534, Australia’s batting lineup faltered again. Despite resistance from Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47), the rest of the team failed to fire, leading to their biggest defeat against India on home soil.

Cummins stressed the need for reflection and improvement as the team prepares for the second Test in Adelaide. “After a loss, you want to get back on the horse pretty quickly. But we’ll take a couple of days’ rest and get into Adelaide,” he said. He also pointed to conversations around what could have been done differently, particularly in handling India’s relentless bowling and batting efforts.

Cummins admitted that Australia let go of a golden opportunity to put India under pressure. “We didn’t give ourselves a chance – a few different facets. If we had managed to hold on to a couple of wickets late on Day 1, things might have panned out differently,” he added.

Despite the setback, Cummins remains optimistic, emphasizing the experience within the team and their ability to regroup. With the series far from over, Australia will be eager to bounce back in Adelaide as they aim to level the series against a resurgent Indian side.