Cummins responds to Clark’s comments on Australia less aggressive approach against India

• Former captain had claimed that Australia cricketers don’t sledge Virat Kohli out of fear of losing their IPL contracts.

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins responding Michael Clarke’s comments about avoiding sledging with Virat Kohli for IPL contracts, said that Aussies wanted to play less aggressive brand of cricket in the series against India, after the repercussions of the ball-tampering scandal that hurt the image of cricket in the country.

Earlier this week, Australia’s World Cup winning captain Clarke had claimed that Australia cricketers don’t sledge Indian captain Virat Kohli out of fear of losing their multi-million dollars Indian Premier League (IPL) contracts.

"I think probably a bigger factor was six months before leading into that Indian series the media and everyone commentating on the Aussie cricket team were pretty clear in their direction in the way they wanted the Aussies team to go and that was playing a little bit less aggressively out on the field," Cummins told the BBC.

"I'd say that would have been a bigger factor than trying to win or lose friends out on the cricket field. But you never know, that might have been a factor for some players."

He said he is ready to play IPL behind closed doors as it would restore a degree of "normality" into daily life.

The IPL season was postponed from March 29 until April 15 because of the coronavirus pandemic, although the expectation is the tournament will be either delayed again or even cancelled should the lockdown in India be extended.