Australian captain Pat Cummins praised Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s talent in taking the game away from the opponent team’s control in a single session. He expressed that his team must find some way to keep the Indian left-handed batter quiet in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. The 5-match test series in Australia takes place from 22nd November 2024 to 07th January 2025.
Just before the previous year’s ODI World Cup final match on 19th November 2023, the Aussie skipper challenged that he wanted to silence the crowd at Narendra Modi Stadium and succeeded in his goal. After a year, Pat wants the same to be implemented with Rishabh Pant in a high-profile test series such as the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Rishabh Pant, who earlier faced a life-threatening car accident in December 2022, returned to test cricket after a long gap of more than 637 days (longer than 2 and a half years). He made an impressive comeback in the first test against Bangladesh. He scored 39 runs from 52 balls (including 6 fours) in the first innings and achieved an exceptional century of 109 runs from 128 balls (including 13 fours and 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 85.16. As a result, Team India achieved a massive 280-run victory over Bangladesh.
Moreover, Pant has a remarkable record against Australia in red-ball cricket, particularly in BGT 2018-19 and 2020-21. The 26-year-old cricketer’s way of playing unconventional shots with a bold approach, including the reverse sweep and single-handed flicks, makes Cummins fear his presence in the upcoming test series.
Pat Cummins About Rishabh Pant: A Comparison to Head and Marsh
In a recent conversation on Star Sports, Pat Cummins compared Rishabh Pant’s batting style with his teammates Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh:
“See! I believe every team has one or two of those cricketers who can take the game forward. Likewise, we have Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh can play aggressively and take control of the match, although you might miss your area.
Similarly, a cricketer like Rishabh Pant may execute a reverse sweep, and it’s an extraordinary shot that proves what he is capable of. Over a certain time, fans became used to watching such amazing and unusual shots from players, which makes them feel as if it is a common part of the game.
He (Rishabh Pant) is one such player who created an impact on a couple of series, and we’ve got to try our best to keep him quiet and take control of the game”, Pat Cummins said.
Rishabh Pant’s Notable Performances vs Australia in Test Cricket
Here are a few notable performances Rishabh Pant achieved against Australia in test cricket, which includes the successful series of BGT 2018–19 and 2020–21:
1. Test Runs on Australian pitches:
Rishabh Pant scored 624 runs out of the 12 test innings played on Australian grounds at an impressive average of 62.40. In the red-ball format, he recorded a century and two half-centuries against the WTC 2023 defending champions and has a strike rate of 72.13.
2. Unbeaten 159 run knock in 4th test BGT 2018–2019:
The 4th test match between India and Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2018–2019 concluded with a draw result. However, Rishabh Pant remained not out in India’s first innings by scoring a stunning century of 159 runs from 189 balls (including 15 fours and 1 six) at a strike rate of 84.13. His fabulous knock helped Team India declare the innings at 622-7 in 167.2 overs.
3. BGT 2020-21 3rd Test 97 run-knock:
In the third out of the fourth test match series in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020–21, Rishabh Pant’s 97 runs from 118 balls (including 12 fours and 3 sixes) at an 82.2 strike rate proved to be crucial for his team in a tricky run chase. But, the match concluded with a draw result.
4. Unbeaten 89-run knock in Gabba Test BGT 2020-21:
Rishabh Pant’s magnificent knock of 89 runs from 138 balls (including 9 fours and 1 six) at a strike rate of 64.49, guided India to a 3-wicket victory and concluded the Aussie’s 32-year unbeaten record at their base.
Conclusion:
It was in 2014 when Australia previously won the Border Gavaskar Trophy at home by defeating India 2-0 in the 4-match test series. The Pat Cummins-led side will be determined to end their 10-year drought period by once again lifting the prestigious trophy.
On the other hand, Team India consecutively won their four Border Gavaskar Trophy, which includes two editions on the Indian (2016–17 and 2022–23) and Australian soil (2018-19 and 2020-21) each.
In the 2018-19 test series, Rishabh Pant was the 2nd highest run scorer by smashing 350 runs in 7 innings at an average of 58.33, including his best score of 159 runs throughout the series. Whereas in the 2020-21 season, the left-handed batter was the third leading run-scorer by accumulating 274 runs in 5 innings at 68.50 average and highest score of 97 runs in the series. Overall, the cricketing world is eager to watch Pat Cummins once again succeed with his challenge by taming Rishabh Pant’s performance or if the young Indian batsman continues his domination on Australian soil.
