Australian pace ace Pat Cummins believes spin could prove decisive during the upcoming ODI series with India.
The IPL’s biggest-ever overseas purchase is part of the Australia squad that will take on India in three ODIs, starting in Mumbai on Tuesday 14th January.
Both teams will be using the series to prepare for October's T20 World Cup in Australia, as well as building towards the next ODI World Cup in 2023.
Australia are currently 3.75 (11/4) favourites with bet365 to win the T20 World Cup on home soil. India are second-favourites at 4.50 (7/2) with the same firm.
Spinners have big role to play in ODI series
Despite spearheading his team’s pace attack, Cummins thinks Australia's spin bowlers are going to have a big role to play across the three games.
He said: “I think spinners play a bigger part in India than they do around the world but it's rare you get a big spinning dust bowl for a one day international.
“The last series I think we played two spinners, they also played two so they are certainly important, especially in the middle overs.”
Australia have left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and leg spinner Adam Zampa in their ranks.
“Upfront there's always a little bit in it with a new ball like anywhere else in the world,” added Cummins. “But then after that, I actually feel that the ball gets probably a little bit softer and chewed up more over there than it does in other parts of the world which makes it a little bit easier sometimes bowling with a bit of a softer ball.”
“But it's just a different challenge, the fields there are a lot smaller and faster than here in Australia, the wickets aren't as pacey and bouncy but it's the same format just a slightly different beast,” he added.
Cummins also preparing for the IPL
Cummins became the third most expensive auction buy in IPL history last year. Kolkata Knight Riders paid a huge INR 15.5 crore to secure his services at the IPL Auction.
He will be using the ODI series to help his own preparations going into the next IPL campaign. He will be getting used to Indian conditions before he aims to win KKR a third IPL title.
