KARACHI: Australia's Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins said that pulling out from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 was a 'pretty easy' decision.
Cummins was named Australia's Test captain in November 2021 after Tim Paine stepped down following a sexting scandal. In October 2022, he was appointed as Kangaroos' ODI captain after Aaron Finch bid adieu to the 50-over format.
With huge responsibility on his shoulders, the two-format captain revealed on Tuesday that he will not participate in the IPL 2023 due to the packed international cricket schedule next year.
The right-arm pacer, however, said the decision was easy to take because as the leader of the national side, he wants to be mentally and physically fresh.
"I really do love playing in the IPL, but just looking at the schedule, the decision was pretty easy. You not only want to be physically fresh but, as captain, you want to be mentally fresh as much as you can to make decisions," Cummins told reporters on Wednesday
"Straight after the IPL, there are six Test matches, hopefully, we make the World Test Championship final. I was totally depleted after the last Ashes (in England) in 2019, so I just want to be going there as fresh as I can be."
Cummins represented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the last edition of the IPL.
His first assignment as ODI captain will be against England in a three-match 50-over series, with the opening clash to take place at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
Later in October-November 2023, Cummins will lead the side in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.
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