AUS vs ENG: Irfan Pathan takes a dig at India's hero culture as Pat Cummins becomes water boy after being dropped

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan aimed a dig at team India's hero culture by posting a picture of Pat Cummins carrying drinks earlier today.

One-time T20 World Champions Australia were in action today in their first Group B match against Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Surprisingly, ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins, who recently led the SunRisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 final, missed out on featuring in the playing XI.

Other than Pat Cummins, the Aussie management decided to exclude all-rounder Cameron Green and went with Marcus Stoinis and Tim David instead. Realistically, Australia were never going to lose to a side like Oman and therefore, Andrew McDonald's decision proved right. The Baggy Greens picked up a huge 39-run victory to go on top of Group B with 2 points to their name.

Irfan Pathan aims a dig at India's hero culture by posting a picture of Pat Cummins carrying drinks

Irfan Pathan, who was man of the match in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup final in 2007, took a direct dig at team India's underlying hero culture. The Indian cricket team is often regarded as a team which worships certain individuals. Those included the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni and presently, it is Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

All of us saw how individually obsessed the Indian fan base is for the players. All the Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma fans had made life hell for Hardik Pandya, who was brought in by the MI management to replace Rohit as the captain.

There is also noise about the Indian team giving more importance to those players who have a massive fanbase. Some have also suggested that players do not get equal treatment.

However, when it comes to a team like Australia, this scenario is totally different and perhaps that's why they are the most decorated cricket team. The Aussies consider form, not image or fan base. They appreciate efforts and teamwork, not emotions and individual brilliance.

Everyone is treated equally be it a World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins or a central contract outcast Marcus Stoinis. Therefore, Irfan Pathan tried the convey that the Australian culture is perhaps a result-oriented culture. Even a senior player doesn't always break into the playing XI and has to carry the drinks for the team, just like Pat Cummins did.

Australia to face England up next

After beating Oman by 39 runs in Barbados, Australia will take on reigning champions England in their next Group B game. Jos Buttler's English team are yet to play all 20 overs in the tournament as their previous match against Scotland was called off due to bad weather.

It will be a mouthwatering clash between the two arch-rivals, who are famously known for their Ashes rivalry. In the previous edition in 2022, this particular fixture had been canceled without a ball bowled but this time around, both the teams will hope for the match to go through.