Cricket: Pat Cummins makes IPL call that will cost him millions

Australian Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has made a big call about his future cricket plans.

Pat Cummins has put his country before Indian Premier League millions and decided he won’t play in the T20 tournament in 2023.

The Australian Test and ODI skipper pointed to a packed international calendar that includes a tour to India, an Ashes and then an ODI World Cup as reasons for his decision.

After Australia’s five-Test home summer there’s a Test tour of India in February and March which could decide whether his team makes the final of the World Test Championship, which will be played before the Ashes in England.

The one-day World Cup then follows later next year, also being played in India.

Cummins was only recently given the ODI captaincy to add to his workload as Test skipper, and as an all-format player for his country, he wants to “task some rest” instead of taking a million-dollar IPL deal.

“I’ve made the difficult decision to miss next year’s IPL,” he announced on social media.

“The international schedule is packed with Tests and ODIs for the next 12 months, so will take some rest ahead of an Ashes series and World Cup.”

I’ve made the difficult decision to miss next years IPL. The international schedule is packed with Tests and ODI’s for the next 12 months, so will take some rest ahead of an Ashes series and World Cup. pic.twitter.com/Iu0dF73zOW

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) November 14, 2022

Cummins signed one of the richest deals for an international player in 2019 when the Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for more than $3m.

He returned to the same team last year for $1.34m.

Cummins joins fellow quick Mitchell Starc, who has annually skipped the potential for million-dollar paydays in the IPL in favour of rest in a packed international schedule.

The IPL is played during a designated period of time off for all Cricket Australia contracted players.

The 2023 International Calendar for Australia:

Feb-March: Four Tests and three ODIs in India

June: World Test Championship final in England

June-July: Ashes in England, five tests

August-Sept: Five ODIs and three T20s in South Africa

Sept: 3 ODIs in India

Oct-Nov: ODI World Cup (in India)