Number one rank does not change anything, says Pat Cummins

While Men in Blue and their fans could get flashbacks of the Ahmedabad heartbreak against Australia, which stopped India's dominant 10-match win streak courtesy tactical masterclass of skipper Pat Cummins and a brutal hammering by Travis Head, the baggage of negativity will come down and everyone will find some comfort in team's most recent wins against New Zealand and the fact their country is on a winning run across the men's, women's and age-group cricket. The baggage will feel a little lighter.

Australia, struggling with injuries leading upto the tournament, with pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing out due to injuries, and Tim David and Glenn Maxwell having injury scares leading upto the tournament, crashed out in the first round of the competition following humiliating losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. While they defeated Ireland in their campaign opener and absolutely dismantled Oman in their final group stage match, the Aussies were far from their dominant selves. Once again questioned were raised over the team's T20I future and if they took the format seriously at all, having won only one T20WC back in 2021.

Australia crushed Oman in a massive face-saving win at Pallekele on Friday, letting them end their campaign on a high with two wins and losses each. But their poor performances against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka raised concerns about the health of Aussie T20I cricket and whether they take the format seriously at all or not. Coming into the tournament, frontline pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were ruled out due to injuries, and skipper Marsh missed out on two games due to a groin injury scare. Steve Smith was flown in as a replacement, but did not get even a single game to play.

After a win over Ireland, Australia's T20 WC campaign ran into trouble with humiliating losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The clash between Zimbabwe and Ireland being washed out due to rain on Tuesday gave Zimbabwe that all-important one point to seal their first-ever Super Eight qualification while it was curtains for Australia, which lacked its seniormost frontline pacers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood who were battling injuries.

Australian selector Tony Dodemaide defended the decision to leave out ace pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup.