Cummins feels freshest in years as Cup prep begins

Test captain Pat Cummins says his body feels fresher than it has in two years as he prepares to return to the field this week as Australia ramp up their preparations for next month's T20 World Cup.

Cummins sat out of Australia's recent one-day international series victories against New Zealand and Zimbabwe in Far North Queensland and has enjoyed a 10-week break since the second Test against Sri Lanka concluded in early July.

The 29-year-old fast bowler told reporters from Mohali – where Australia will begin their three T20I tour against India on Tuesday – that his body felt great, and he was "itching" to get back out there.

Australia has nine T20 matches including a warm-up fixture leading up to their World Cup opener against New Zealand in Sydney on October 22 and Cummins said he was eager to play as many of those as possible.

"I'm pretty keen to play quite a lot so that come the World Cup I feel like my game is in really good order," Cummins said.

"That World Cup is the time we want to be peaking so I think we'll find that balance between making sure we're ready but not overcooked going to the start of the World Cup.

"I feel probably the best I have for a year or two, my body feels fresh, it feels like I've been able to have a mini pre-season.

"In terms of mindset, I feel really fresh and ready to get stuck in, so it was a great break, a couple of the niggles are fine.

"There will be ongoing management, some of those things just compound if you don't get that little window, so they are all as good as they have been for a while."

With opener David Warner (rested) and batting allrounders Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis set to miss the Indian tour to manage minor injuries, it appears certain that globetrotting T20 power-hitter Tim David will make his much-anticipated debut for Australia during the series.

David, who played 14 T20 internationals for Singapore between July 2019 and March 2020, has forced his way into Australia's World Cup squad through dominant performances in domestic T20 leagues including the Indian Premier League as well as England's Hundred and T20 Blast, Pakistan and Caribbean leagues.

Cummins said he viewed David as an X-factor player for the reigning world champions.

"He's been right up there with the best in the world batting in that middle-order," Cummins said.

"It's a really tough spot (to bat), you see most of the run-scorers open the batting or in the top-order.

"It's really hard to be consistent coming in when there's spin bowlers or at the end of the innings and I think he's been fantastic.

"So if he gets his chance, hopefully he can continue doing what he's been doing in the domestic leagues around the world."

India have lost fast bowler Mohammed Shami for the three-match series in Mohali, Nagpur and Hyderabad after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Shami, who was not included in India's Asia Cup squad recently, last played in the shortest format for the national side in November during their previous T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE.

Umesh Yadav, who played the last of his seven T20 internationals for India in February 2019, has been named as his replacement, the BCCI said in a statement.

Qantas T20 Tour of India 2022

September 20: First T20, Mohali, midnight Sept 21 AEST

September 23: Second T20, Nagpur, midnight Sept 24 AEST

September 25: Third T20, Hyderabad, midnight Sept 26 AEST

All matches will be shown live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia squad: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Finch (c), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav.