“I have decided against returning to India at this time as my mother is ill and in palliative care. I feel I am best being here with my family,” Cummins said. “I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my team-mates. Thanks for your understanding.”
Cummins was named to captain Australia’s ODI team in the three-match series that follows the Test series but it remains to be seen whether he will return to India at all.
Boland played the first Test in Nagpur alongside Cummins but was squeezed out in Delhi when Australia opted for three spinners. Morris was a chance to fly home to play some domestic cricket but was kept in India as cover for Cummins.
Josh Hazlewood, David Warner and Ashton Agar have also flown home for various reasons this week but Australia did not add any other players to the squad as the selectors felt there was enough cover for the final two Tests of the series.