Australia skipper Pat Cummins believes that the 2018-19 Test series loss to India was more hurtful than the 2020-21 debacle under his captaincy as the home team were simply outplayed in that engagement. India, under Virat Kohli, defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2018-19 rubber with the skipper and Cheteshwar Pujara playing a pivotal role in the historic triumph against the Tim Paine-led side.

During the 2020-2021 series, a hugely-depleted Indian side again bagged the series 2-1, defeating the hosts at their stronghold The Gabba for the first time in a Test match in 32 years. “I actually thought the series before [2018-19] was worse because we got completely beaten whereas that series [in 2020-21] was quite [keenly] fought. I thought they [India] played like fantastically well to win at The Gabba,” Cummis told The Grade Cricketer podcast.