Pat Cummins: Winning the Ashes, Magic of the IPL, & The Art of Bowling in a Batters Era

One of the Business of Sport greats returns. It was too painful to do this just after the Ashes, but with time the ever effective healer, and with the IPL kicking off this week, what better moment to get Pat Cummins back in the seat.

When Pat first came on before the 2023 Ashes, the conversation ranged from how they’d deal with the new style of cricket England were bringing to the test scene, while also looking at the impact of an increasingly packed calendar, and how the players manage their priorities. This time round, the less we talk about England the better, but with the IPL fronting the calendar for the next few weeks, we take a proper look at what that tournament has done for the global game. This is another quality insight into the world of cricket at the highest level from one of the game’s great players. We’re delighted to welcome Pat to the Business of Sport.

The Ashes & Leadership

• What it’s really like captaining Australia during an Ashes series

• How Australia handled England’s “Bazball” approach

• The role of individuality vs system in elite team performance

The IPL & The Business of Cricket

• Inside the IPL: pressure, money and global attention

• How IPL exposure unlocks sponsorships and business opportunities

• Why cricket is facing a growing tension between leagues and international duty

The Evolution of Cricket

• Why T20 cricket is becoming more aggressive than ever

• The rise of 250+ scores and how teams are built to dominate

• How rule changes like the “impact player” are reshaping the game

Life Beyond Cricket

• Why Cummins doesn’t define himself purely as a cricketer

• His approach to investing, AI and business interests

• Balancing elite performance with family, curiosity and long-term thinking