Rishabh Pant Stuns Australia with Blistering Knock in Border-Gavaskar Trophy Finale

January 4, 2025

Pant’s Heroics Turn the Tide
Rishabh Pant delivered a sensational performance on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Walking in to bat at No. 4, Pant smashed a quickfire 61 off just 33 balls, featuring six boundaries and four towering sixes. His knock, at an impressive strike rate of 184.85, was instrumental in reviving India’s innings after an early collapse.

Having faced criticism for his underwhelming performances throughout the series, Pant silenced his detractors in style. This innings also marked a milestone for the wicketkeeper-batter, as he crossed 5,000 international runs for India. So far in the series, Pant has scored 255 runs in nine innings at an average of 28.33, with a strike rate of 59.02.

Social Media Frenzy and Srikkanth’s Wit
Pant’s counter-attacking innings set social media abuzz, with fans and cricketing experts lauding his efforts. Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth joined in the celebration with a cheeky post on X (formerly Twitter): “What a knock by Pant! He’s just taken the pants off the Aussies!”

Action-Packed Day 2: Bowlers Shine
Day 2 witnessed high drama as 15 wickets fell over the course of the day. Indian bowlers showcased a stellar performance, despite limited contribution from Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled only 10 overs before undergoing a precautionary scan post-lunch. Pacers Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy stepped up, dismantling the Australian batting lineup for 181. Debutant Beau Webster top-scored for the hosts with a gritty half-century.

India began their second innings with a narrow lead of four runs. Although the openers started confidently, Scott Boland struck thrice to reduce India from 42/1 to 78/4. However, Pant’s heroics ensured that India ended the day in a stronger position, leading by 145 runs.

Series Hangs in the Balance
Trailing 1-2 in the series, India needs a win in Sydney to draw the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign. Simon Katich, reflecting on Pant’s efforts, remarked, “I admire his resilience and the way he applied himself after the criticism he faced earlier in the series. It was hard work out there, and he handled the challenge brilliantly.”

As the Sydney Test heads into Day 3, all eyes will be on Pant and the Indian bowlers as they aim to level the series and finish the campaign on a high.