Australia’s Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins announced on Tuesday that he will be missing the IPL season in 2023. His decision comes after Sam Billing of England, also representing KKR, decided to let go of the 2023 IPL season. Cummins, who represents KKR in the IPL, tweeted at 2.15am on Tuesday announcing his withdrawal due to a packed schedule and want of rest ahead of the 2023 Ashes and the World Cup.

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The 29-year-old Cummins debuted in IPL in 2014 representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In his IPL career spanning 8 years, Cummins has played in 42 games picking up 45 wickets while he also became the joint fastest half century-getter (14-ball 56) in IPL history. However, off late, Cummins has suffered a slump of form. While Cummins had a lacklustre performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup at home, picking up just 3 wickets in 4 games at an economy rate of 8.25 per over, Australia also had a bad tournament, losing heavily to neighbours New Zealand and failing to qualify for the semi-finals of the event despite being one of the favourites.

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Australia has a tight schedule next year, starting with the Border-Gavaskar trophy against India in February-March, Ashes in England (16 June to 31 July) and ODI World Cup in India (October-November).

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Cummins’ and Billing’s withdrawal are in tune with the general principles of many Australian and English cricketers, who have let go of deals worth several crores in the lucrative Indian Premier League to rest well and be in shape for their international encounters. While it has ensured success in plenty for sides (England won the 2019 World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup while Australia won the 2021 T20 World Cup), it is in sharp contrast to the approach followed by Indian players. Indian cricketers have won hefty contracts in IPL but have failed to live up to the expectations of fans and critics in International tournaments with a title drought of 9 years still continuing.