Cummins makes new-ball statement

Pat Cummins was finally given the new ball in last night's thrilling loss to India in Nagpur and after his stellar performance it's hard to see him losing it in the foreseeable future.

Cummins finished the narrow eight-run loss as the pick of Australia's bowlers with figures of 4-29 from nine overs having taken the new ball for the first time in 16 internationals across all formats, dating back to the Australia Day ODI in Adelaide last year.

With three matches left in this series and five ODI to follow against Pakistan, Cummins could be in line to take the new ball for a while yet as new-ball regulars Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood work their way back from injury.

If that is the case, it's fine by Cummins.

"I love bowling with the new ball, especially in one-day cricket on these kind of wickets, the ball deteriorates quite quickly," he said.

"So I love getting the brand new ball and trying to swing it around, get a bit of pace and bounce out of the wicket before it tends to go soft.

"I enjoyed that, really happy with how I landed it pretty much my whole nine overs.

"And fortunately got a couple of wickets at the end there to bump up the figures a bit."

He started the match with a wicket maiden as India opener Rohit Sharma flashed at short ball to give leg-spinner Adam Zampa a catch at third man.

The over finished as a wicket maiden and his first spell of three overs conceded just nine runs.

He was brought in and out of the attack during the middle overs by captain Aaron Finch before returning at the back end of India's innings to pick up three late wickets to spark a collapse of 4-12.

A slower ball accounted for the wicket of swashbuckling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who skied an easy catch to Usman Khawaja at mid-off.

Two balls later Cummins removed India captain Virat Kohli, who had spent more than three hours at the crease crafting his 40th ODI century. Kohli was stunned to see his pull shot pick out Marcus Stoinis at deep square leg.

Finally, Cummins hit the leg stump of tailender Kuldeep Yadav who exposed his woodwork looking to work a ball down to fine leg.

With five ODIs in just 11 days, Australia's quicks are expected to be rotated in the series, but with Cummins in red-hot form, good luck taking the ball out of his hand, whether it be old or new.

Qantas Tour of India

First T20: Australia won by three wickets

Second T20: Australia won by seven wickets

First ODI: India won by six wickets

Second ODI: India won by eight runs

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi