As a captain, Pat Cummins continued his dominance over the Indian cricket team as Australia bagged the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15 on Sunday (January 5).

Back in 2023, Cummins had led Australia to ODI World Cup final win and World Test Championship final victory against India

After his team broke a decade-long drought by defeating India in a Test series and qualified to the WTC final for the second time in a row, Cummins showered rich praise on his "special" close-knit group.

After suffering a heavy 295-run defeat in the series opener at Perth, the hosts bounced back to register a six-wicket triumph in Sydney. As a result, they clinched the BGT by a 3-1 margin.

For a number of Australian cricketers, defeating India in a Test series was a dream come true. Only Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Steve Smith were part of the side that defeated India 10 years ago.

"Obviously in the context of this series, it's been a massive series," Cummins said after the Sydney Test win.

"It is one that a few of us didn't have. The boys have had their eye on it and it has lived up to the hype. We've spent a lot of time together as a group over the years, so we knew we weren't at our best at Perth."

"But it was never as bad as it seems. So you stick tight and double down on what makes us a really good side," he added.

Thanks to this victory, the reigning champions will face South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June.

"It's such a special group, we have so much fun. I feel so privileged to first of all have this job. But what we've been able to achieve together alongside the support staff as well, it's such a group effort, families as well. They give up so much. So yeah, really proud," Cummins stated.

Australia handed debut caps to Beau Webster, Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney in this series. Senior pros like Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith also rose to the occasion for the hosts.

"Always nice to have a squad," said Cummins. "The three debutants in this series fitted in well. They contributed in different times.

"There were some key moments when our mainstays really stood up. You need to do that to beat a side like India."