Australian captain Pat Cummins played a crucial supporting role in Australia’s 2023 World Cup league-stage victory against Afghanistan, earning praise from former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai witnessed a challenging 292-run target set by Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi and his team. Cummins, facing adversity at 91/7, contributed an unbeaten 12 off 68 balls, providing vital support to Glenn Maxwell, who smashed an unbeaten 201 off 128 deliveries.
Harbhajan Singh commended Cummins during a discussion on Star Sports, emphasizing the significance of his contribution.
“He deserves credit for playing his role. Although it may seem small, I believe he played a significant part. His captaincy wasn’t impressive, but he didn’t lose his wicket while batting,” he said.
“He performed admirably, offering outstanding support. Without his contribution, these runs wouldn’t have been possible. While Maxwell could have scored on his own, Cummins faced 60-70 balls, an impressive feat against a challenging spin-bowling attack where each delivery could have been dangerous,” he added.
Highlighting Cummins’ resilience, Harbhajan pointed out that his innings served as a lesson for the dismissed Australian batters. He emphasized the importance of spending time at the crease to score runs, citing Cummins’ innings as a valuable example.
“It’s a lesson for the seven batters who were dismissed. Scoring runs is possible if you spend time at the crease. It’s a reminder to be aware and understand the importance of staying at the crease,” he concluded.