Australia’s Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, will sit out of the next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The right-arm pacer, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 7.25 crore at the mega-auction in February this year, has decided to skip IPL 2023 in order to take some rest ahead of Australia’s jam-packed cricket schedule that includes a tour to India, an Ashes and the ODI World Cup.
Cummins took to his social media accounts on Tuesday to announce his decision ahead of the IPL 2023 retentions.
“I’ve made the difficult decision to miss next years IPL. The international schedule is packed with Tests and ODI’s for the next 12 months, so will take some rest ahead of an Ashes series and World Cup,” Cummins said on Twitter.
“Thanks so much to @KKRiders for their understanding. Such a terrific team of players and staff and I hope I can get back there ASAP,” he added.
Thanks so much to @KKRiders for their understanding. Such a terrific team of players and staff and I hope I can get back there ASAP 💜💜
— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) November 14, 2022
Of late, Cummins has not been at his best in the shortest format. In the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, he could pick up only three wickets in four games and conceded runs at an economy of 8.25 runs per over.
Cummins now joins fellow quick Mitchell Starc in skipping the IPL in favour of rest ahead of a packed international schedule.
On Monday, England wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings opted out of IPL 2023 to focus on the longer format. KKR have traded New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from current IPL champion Gujarat Lions (GT) to fill the gaps created with the decision made by Billings and Cummins.
