Border Gavaskar Trophy: Sunil Gavaskar splits the slate for Rishabh Pant

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is now down to its final Test, taking place at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). While India's top-order batters once again failed to meet expectations, it was the dynamic and fearless Rishabh Pant who stole the show with an electrifying performance. The wicketkeeper-batter, known for his aggressive and innovative approach to batting, played one of the most crucial and entertaining knocks of the series. Pant, who has been a pivotal figure for India in recent years, took it upon himself to wrest the momentum back from Australia, particularly after the early setbacks. His attacking stroke play was on full display as he dispatched Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground, showcasing his natural ability to dominate the opposition. With a combination of powerful drives, fearless pulls, and cheeky flicks, Pant entertained the crowd and kept the Australian bowlers on their toes.

While India’s top-order struggles were a concern, Pant’s resilience and form provided the much-needed spark. His innings not only lifted the team’s spirits but also ensured that India stayed competitive in the contest. His fearless approach was a reminder of the importance of taking calculated risks in challenging situations. As the game progresses, India will look to Pant for further contributions in their bid to close out the series on a high note, with his impact continuing to be felt throughout the match.

Rishabh Pant, the 27-year-old southpaw, played a spectacular knock in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 61 off just 33 deliveries, which included six fours and four sixes. His blistering innings came at a phenomenal strike rate of 184.85, providing much-needed entertainment and momentum for the Indian team. Despite being dismissed later by Pat Cummins, Pant’s quick-fire contribution was invaluable, particularly as India only managed a slender lead of four runs after the first innings.

Pant's fearless approach at the crease was a much-needed boost, especially with India’s top-order batters continuing to struggle. His ability to attack Australian bowlers without hesitation highlighted the difference between his approach and that of the rest of the team. The knock earned widespread praise, including from India legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was particularly impressed by Pant's aggression and timing. Gavaskar even drew comparisons between this innings and Pant’s earlier knocks in the series, pointing out how the rest of the Indian batting lineup could learn from his confidence and intent. Pant’s performance not only lifted the team’s spirits but also reinforced the value of playing with flair and courage in tough situations.

“These are quite impactful runs (from Rishabh Pant), and he is the reason India has scored these runs because he has scored half of those runs. But the difference between the shot that Rishabh Pant played at Melbourne versus the shot that he’s played here, the difference is that the shots that he played today were in front of the wickets, he did play a shot towards the square-leg, he capitalised on Mitchell Starc’s angle and flicked it on the square-leg. And the strength that he possess of playing down the ground and hitting big sixes in those regions, he capitalized on it. Rishabh Pant tried to scoop the ball once and was not successful, he also tried to reverse scoop then too he was not successful and then he planned to play straight and he was successful in doing so,” said former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar in a recent interview. 

“That’s his normal game, whereas our other batters did not play their normal game, stepping out and playing is not Shubman Gill’s normal game, it might be his normal game when it comes to T20 but not Tests. The way Rahul played that shot was not his normal game. So, I think they had thought that we cannot prevail for long on this pitch and we’ll somehow bat it through but if it is not you normal game then there are quite few chances that you might be successful,” he added.