India, June 29 -- Australia captain Pat Cummins has found himself in an unusual off-field predicament during the ongoing Test series against the West Indies. In what appears to be a case of unfortunate timing and baffling mystery, Cummins' brand-new Baggy Green cap, a cherished emblem of Australian Test cricket, reportedly went missing just hours before the series opener in Barbados.

Cummins had arrived for a pre-series photoshoot alongside West Indies captain Roston Chase, sporting the new cap, which he had chosen to debut instead of repairing his original one from 2011. That original cap, issued to him ahead of his Test debut against South Africa, had endured years of wear and weather, prompting the skipper to seek a fresh start with a...