'He’s Always A Bit Of X-factor': Pat Cummins Names The Biggest Threat In Team India

India and Australia are set to play a five-match Test series starting November 22 in Perth. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins revealed the biggest threat to the Indian cricket team that his side will be careful of. 

Pat Cummins identified Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant as India's "X-factor," but stressed that his team is focused on rectifying the setbacks from four consecutive series defeats to India. It was Rishabh Pant 's impressive knock in the final innings of the Gabba Test match that helped India pull off a second-consecutive series victory on Australian soil.   

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Pat Cummins showers praise on Rishabh Pant

"Rishabh had a great series here in Australia last time. He’s always a bit of that X-factor in the middle order," Pat Cummins said on Star Sports.

"You never quite know what you're going to get, which is exciting, even as the opposition. And he's always got something to say behind the stumps -- he’s very funny, makes me laugh." 

Asked how the Australian bowling lineup rates talented youngsters like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, Cummins said: "I’ve played a little bit against Shubman. Haven't seen a lot of Jaiswal, just a bit in the IPL .

"But they both look like young guys who've scored a fair few runs in different formats. We'll get down here and have a good look at them. But yeah, we're still a little while away from the series, so I can't say I’ve been planning too closely for them yet." 

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Pat Cummins also rued about missing key all-rounder Cameron Green who has been ruled out for six months after choosing to undergo surgery for a stress fracture in his lower back.

"He’s a big loss for us. Not only for his batting, but he’s probably the best gully fielder I’ve ever seen, and a great bowler we need as well, so we’re really going to miss him," he said.

Australia will face Pakistan in a white-ball series before the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

It will be the first Test series between India and Australia comprising five matches since 1992.