"Got to try to keep him quiet" - Pat Cummins wary of Rishabh Pant ahead of IND vs AUS 2024-25 Test series

Australian captain Pat Cummins has admitted that they must find a way to keep Rishabh Pant quiet during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series later this year. The New South Wales speedster suggested that the keeper-batter is the game-changer in India's ranks and is capable of influencing matches their way at any stage.

Pant returned to India's Test team in the recent game against Bangladesh in Chennai, playing his first since December 2022. The 26-year-old played an instrumental role in India's consecutive Test series Down Under, averaging 62.40 in 12 innings with 624 runs against Australia.

Speaking to Star Sports, Cummins called Pant India's equivalent for Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head as the duo can take the game on by being aggressive. The 31-year-old observed that they must neutralize the Indian keeper-batter's impact in the forthcoming series, given his influence on the last two occasions.

Cummins said:

"Look, I think every team has one or two of those players who can take the game on. We have Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. I think with those guys, you know they're going to be aggressive. You miss your area a little bit and they can take the game on. Someone like Rishabh Pant might play a reverse lap and it's an incredible shot.

"That's just a part of who he is. We've become accustomed to it nowadays because some of those ridiculous shots are a bit more common. He is someone who has had a big influence on a couple of series. Got to try to keep him quiet."

In his first Test back, Pant registered scores of 39 and 109 against Bangladesh as India won by a massive 280-run margin.

Pat Cummins hoping to help Australia regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after losing four consecutive series

Cummins, who succeeded Tim Paine as the Test captain in 2021, will hope to see Australia hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since the 2014-15 series. The right-arm paceman finished as the highest wicket-taker (21 scalps) from either side the last time India played the series in Australia.

The first of the five Tests begins on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.