Rishabh Pant has emerged as the go-to wicket-keeper after his several overseas innings, full of supremacy. To emphasize one, Pant played a vital inning of 97 runs in 118 deliveries, in the third Test, at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-2021.
The Test match was at a crucial stage as India was handed a huge target of 407 runs. The Indian batters were going strong with alternate partnerships, but Pant with Cheteshwar Pujara turned the tables around and aided India to attain a historic draw. Although, it wasn’t just the Pant-Pujara run-stand, as Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari’s heroics turned out to be saviors for Ajinkya Rahane-led side. The result was important because it was 1-1 until the Sydney saga.
Pant and Pujara together, added 148 runs for the fourth wicket, before Pant, who tried to hit the ball over covers was caught by Pat Cummins and Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon shut one of the most entertaining innings of the India wicket-keeper. But this dismissal of the 24-year-old was apparently caused due to his partner Pujara.
Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian skipper revealed that Pant was not happy after the dismissal. Rahane, in the documentary series ‘Bandon Mein Tha Dum’ on VOOT stated: “Pujara from the other end was telling him to slow down. We can score runs later. When any experienced player comes and tells you, ‘Now wait, you’re on 97 and you’re playing well, but now if you play a little sensibly you can make your 100. He was backing his game but unfortunately, he got out.”
“When he came in, he was disappointed and angry and he said, ‘Pujara bhai came and reminded me that I was on 97. I wasn’t even aware. Had he not said anything, I would have probably completed by hundred.”
I like it when I’m very clear in my plans- Rishabh Pant
Pant, in the same documentary said: “…’Rishabh… see for a while, try to stick. You can work in singles, doubles too. You don’t have to hit a boundary’. I got a little angry that they put me in this double-minded state. Because I like it when I’m very clear in my plans that this is what I want to do. We had built such a good momentum. In my mind the only thing at that time was ‘damn, what just happened?’ Because if I reached 100 there, it would have been one of my best.”
Written By Prachi Pisal
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