Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023: Pat Cummins to miss Indore Test; Steve Smith to lead Australia

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Indore, Feb 24: Australia captain Pat Cummins - who has returned to his home for personal reasons - is not going to participate in the third Test match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.

Has Pat Cummins pulled out of India tour?

Cummins flew back home soon after the conclusion of the second Test between India and Australia in Delhi to attend to his ailing mother.

"I have decided against returning to India at this time as my mother is ill and in palliative care. I feel I am best being here with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding," a statement from Cummins has claimed.

It remains to be seen whether he'll return to lead the Aussies in the final Test, which will be played between March 9 and 13 in Ahmedabad.

Steve Smith to be Australia captain

In the right-arm pacer's absence, the Baggy Greens will be led by vice-captain Steve Smith in the remaining fixtures.

The tourists will be hoping for a turnaround under the leadership of Smith - who was the captain of this side back in 2017. Also, some of Cummins' decisions in the field were also criticised by the Aussie experts in the first two Tests and a change of guard might change their fate.

Smith returns as the captain of the Test side with Indore Test and it won't be a surprise if he's appointed the regular skipper in the days to come. Earlier in December last year, Smith was the acting skipper for Australia in the Test match at home against the West Indies when Cummins was injured.

Pat Cummins' replacement in the 3rd Test

Cricket Australia haven't named any replacements for Cummins and in the upcoming match either Mitchell Starc - who is fit after injury - or Scott Boland - who featured in the opening Test - or will be included in the playing eleven.

Challenges ahead for Australia in BGT 2023

Already trailing 0-2 in the four-match series, Australia will be looking to put up a fight against Rohit Sharma-led side in the next two games. The third Test will be played at the Holkar Stadium while the fourth and final match of the series, which has already been retained by the hosts, will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Australians failed to make much impact in the first two games played at Nagpur and Delhi respectively. It is the batting, which let the Aussies down in the first two games as they were subdued against the quality spin bowling attack from India.

The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has been nothing short of a mystery for the Aussie batters, who arrived on the Indian shores with a lot of promise.

Adding to their woes, the visitors are also going to miss the services of their senior batter David Warner - who has been ruled out of the series due to injury. Senior pacer Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out.