Australia Test Captain Pat Cummins has stated he feels the best he has for a couple of years ahead of next month's T20 World Cup.
Cummins was absent from Australia's recent ODI Series' against New Zealand and Zimbabwe, as he continued to enjoy a long layoff since the second test against Sri Lanka in July.
The Aussies have nine T20 matches to come leading up to the opening game of the T20 World Cup opener against New Zealand on October 2022, and Cummins stated he was itching to get back out there.
"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 told reporters in Mohali.
"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."
However, even with Cummins ready to get involved with the squad, there will be some vital players missing the start of preparation for the World Cup.
Opening batsman David Warner will be rested for the duration of the Indian Tour after participating in the opening two ODI fixtures against the Kiwis, whereas all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh will miss with minor injuries.
Moving over to India team news, and pace bowler Mohammed Shami will miss the entire series against Australia after testing positive to COVID-19.
Umesh Yadav, who has not played in the T20 format for India since February 2019, has been named as his replacement.
The first T20 against India will take place at Midnight on Wednesday, September 21 AEST.
