Sydney [Australia], January 3: Following a tough opening day in Sydney, Rishabh Pant admitted that India’s batting performance fell short of a par score, acknowledging that the team was at least 35 runs behind where they should have been. However, despite the disappointing total, Pant remained optimistic about India’s competitiveness, especially given the challenging conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and the way the ball was moving.
India’s top order struggled once again, leaving the team at 72/4 after Virat Kohli’s dismissal to a trademark outside edge. At that point, Pant and Ravindra Jadeja came together to provide much-needed resistance, adding 48 runs in a gritty partnership. Pant, known for his aggressive stroke play, adjusted his game to a more defensive approach, taking blows to his body as he focused on steadying the innings.
“I think we were at least 35 runs short of a par score,” Pant said in the post-day press conference. “Anything above 220-250 would have been par, but still competitive with the way the ball is moving.”
Despite the pain from the physical blows, including a particularly painful delivery from Scott Boland that struck his upper thigh, Pant said he was determined to do the hard work for the team. “It’s definitely painful, but sometimes you have to do the hard work for the team. I didn’t think about where I got hit, just focused on playing the ball to the best of my abilities.”
Pant’s stay at the crease was eventually cut short when he miscued a shot off Boland, edging it into the hands of Australian captain Pat Cummins. Pant was dismissed for 40 off 98 balls, and India’s innings collapsed soon after, with the team folding for just 185 runs.
Boland was the standout performer for Australia, finishing with figures of 4/31 in 20 overs, the best by any Australian quick in their first outing. Pant praised Boland’s skill, acknowledging the bowler’s ability to exploit the conditions. “He’s been an amazing bowler. The way he bowls line and length, especially in Test cricket, is quite difficult. It feels like he’s been around for a long time, even though it’s his first few matches. He’s shown a lot of experience,” Pant said.
Looking ahead to the second innings, Pant recognized the need for India to find ways to counter Boland’s threat. “Even if the bowler is bowling well, you need to keep finding ways to tackle him,” he added. “All respect for him, amazing bowling, but at the same time, we need to keep working on our game.”
At the close of Day 1, Australia stood at 9/1, still trailing India by 176 runs.