Sydney (Australia): Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar hailed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his valuable half-century during Day 2 of the ongoing fifth Test against Australia at Sydney. Pant’s 50, scored in just 30 balls, helped India secure a crucial lead and gave them an advantage at the end of the second day.
Gavaskar described Pant’s knock as “impactful runs,” adding that his performance was a key factor in India’s lead over Australia. “These are quite impactful runs, and he is the reason India has scored these runs because he has scored half of those runs,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
He also pointed out the difference between Pant’s shots in this match compared to his previous performances. Pant’s shots were primarily “in front of the wicket,” as he capitalized on Mitchell Starc’s angle and played strong shots down the ground, a signature of his game. Gavaskar appreciated Pant’s adaptability, despite unsuccessful attempts at reverse scoops and other unorthodox shots.
Pant’s Performance in the Series
Pant has faced challenges during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, not fully converting his promising starts into big scores. With a total of 255 runs from 5 matches and 9 innings, Pant has averaged 28.33 with a strike rate of 59.02, including one half-century. Despite this, he remains the sixth-highest run-scorer of the series.
Criticism of Other Indian Batters
Gavaskar also criticized Indian batsmen Shubman Gill and KL Rahul for their shot selection and failure to stick to their normal game. He felt that stepping out to play was not in Gill’s normal approach, particularly in Test cricket. Similarly, Rahul’s shot selection was deemed uncharacteristic and costly.
Gavaskar remarked, “If it is not your normal game, there are quite a few chances that you might be unsuccessful.”
Match Summary: India vs Australia
India won the toss and opted to bat first, but their top order struggled, with Virat Kohli continuing to struggle against deliveries outside off-stump. India was eventually bowled out for 185 runs in 72.2 overs, with contributions from Pant (40), Ravindra Jadeja (26), and Jasprit Bumrah (22).
Australia responded with a subpar performance, losing wickets regularly despite a valiant 57 from debutant Beau Webster and 33 from Steve Smith. India bowled Australia out for just 181 runs, with Prasidh Krishna (3/42) and Mohammed Siraj (3/51) being the top bowlers.
In India’s second innings, despite promising starts from Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and KL Rahul (13), India lost wickets at regular intervals, and the score stood at 141/6 by the end of the second day, with Jadeja (8*) and Washington Sundar (6*) at the crease.
Conclusion
The match is delicately poised, with India holding a slim lead of 145 runs. Pant’s crucial half-century could prove to be a turning point as India looks to strengthen their position and push for a victory.