Keeping Virat Kohli Quiet Will Be Key for Australia: Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins undoubtedly considers Virat Kohli the “big” wicket he would target in the series against India.

Virat Kohli makes a gesture while batting against Australia. 

(Image: Twitter)

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins undoubtedly considers Virat Kohli the "big" wicket he would target in the upcoming series against India. Cummins also believes keeping Kohli quiet will be key for the hosts in series.

Virat Kohli-led India is currently in Australia for a full series that includes three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals followed by a four-Test rubber. The tour will start with the ODIs on 27 November. Kohli, however, will return to India after the first Test after being granted paternity leave by the BCCI.

"I think every side has that one or two batters and they are the big wickets. Most teams have their captain – Joe Root for England, Kane Williamson for New Zealand. You feel like if you get their wickets that goes a long way in winning the game," Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.

"He (Kohli) is always a big one. You commentators talk about him non-stop, so hopefully, we can keep him quiet," he added.

The Australian vice-captain is one of the 11 Australian players currently quarantining after returning from the UAE where he played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Their quarantine period finishes on the eve of the first ODI against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It's good to be back here in Sydney. Obviously, we are locked down but we are let out for couple of hours a day.

"We've been in the middle of it (cricket in bio-secure bubbles) for three or four months now so we're starting to get used to it," he said.

Australia’s Pat Cummins reacts, during a nets session. (Photo: AP)

"But it will be weird - we get out Thursday night and then we will go and join the boys at a hotel but there's a good chance we won't see them until we literally turn up to the SCG on Friday."

Cummins said Australia is well prepared to give India a tough fight in the series.

"It's going to be huge. Obviously, we're back here on home soil. other than spending a lot of times in hotels and bubbles I feel like our preparation has actually been really good.

"We went over to the UK and had a good tour there. Most of the boys here have been playing 14 T20 matches in the last few weeks and the other guys coming in will be playing shrewd cricket. So, it feels like we are all firing up and got a lot of stuff behind us," he said.

The imposing pacer said that over the last couple of years, he has developed as a bowler.

"I was probably a bit quicker a few years ago but I feel like in the last couple of years I got better, learning different tempos within the game and also when I am bowling. I feel I got a bit more control on swing and seam," Cummins said.

"Whatever conditions we come up with, I have got a couple of tools I can go to."