Team India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has completely changed the landscape of the ongoing Test match in Sydney with a blistering century on day 5 of the contest. Pant took on the Aussie attack especially Nathan Lyon after being 5 off 35 balls at one point, to bring back the visitors right back in the game.
Meanwhile, the story was completely different at the end of the fourth day’s play with India staring at defeat after losing openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma in quick succession. The openers gave a good start once again but gave away wickets after getting set. To make things worse, India lost Ajinkya Rahane within the first couple of overs of the fifth day’s play.
Since then, it was all Rishabh Pant in the morning session of day 5. Playing with an injured arm, he started slow just blocking everything that came his way. But once he shifted gears, there was no stopping him. The youngster took on Nathan Lyon stepping out and hitting him over the on-field fielders.
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VVS Laxman praises Rishabh Pant
As he went against the Aussie bowlers, the monumental target came down to less than 200 which was within the reach. Rishabh Pant entered the nervous 90s with two back-to-back boundaries. While many batsmen have tend to lose composure during this period, Pant seemed unfazed and went after a Nathan Lyon delivery. However, one delivery took of the dust and found Pant’s edge and found Pat Cummins at the point.
Although he got out three short of another magical century in Sydney, the Twitterverse was all praise for Rishabh Pant. Authority was written all over the knock which included 12 fours and three sixes, as former India cricketer VVS Laxman showered praise on the youngster.
“He may not have got his
but @RishabhPant17 can be very proud at the way he batted. Got India back into the game with his aggressive stroke play. Well done young man,” VVS Laxman tweeted.
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He may not have got his 💯 but @RishabhPant17 can be very proud at the way he batted. Got India back into the game with his aggressive stroke play. Well done young man. #AUSvIND
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 11, 2021
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Meanwhile, speaking of the game, India still need 145 runs to win with Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari in the middle. They will have to bat long and take the game deep before trying to see if they can win it from there.
On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja, who has ruled out of the fourth Test with a dislocated finger, will only come out to bat if India need him to bat to save the Test match.