Rishabh Pant Opens Up About India’s Struggle With Bat, Recalls His Painful Outing

January 3, 2025: After a challenging Day 1 in Sydney, Rishabh Pant reflected on India’s batting struggles and acknowledged that the team had fallen short of a par total, but remained optimistic about their chances in the game. Despite India being bundled out for 185, Pant expressed belief that they could still be competitive, especially given the way the pitch was behaving, with the ball moving sharply.

India’s top order faltered yet again on a tough surface, leaving them struggling at 72/4. At this point, Pant joined Ravindra Jadeja at the crease and the pair formed a resilient 48-run stand to help India move past the 100-run mark. Pant, typically known for his attacking approach, was forced to adopt a more defensive technique to counter the challenges posed by the Australian bowlers, especially Scott Boland, who was proving difficult to handle. Pant’s innings of 40 off 98 balls came to a premature end when he miscued a pull shot to give Boland his second wicket.

Pant admitted that India was at least 35 runs short of a par score, with a total of 220-250 deemed ideal on the surface. However, he remained hopeful, pointing to the way the ball was moving and India’s ability to remain “competitive” with the ball in hand. India had a glimmer of hope when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja early in Australia’s innings, leaving the hosts at 9/1.

Reflecting on his time at the crease, Pant was candid about the physical toll it took on him. He sustained several painful blows, including one to the upper thigh from Boland, but he brushed off the discomfort, focusing on doing the hard work for his team. “It’s painful, but sometimes you have to do the hard work for the team, and that’s okay,” Pant said, highlighting the mental resilience required to play through the pain.

Pant also lavished praise on Scott Boland, who was the standout bowler of the day, taking 4/31 in his 20-over spell. Boland’s ability to consistently hit the right line and length, especially in such challenging conditions, impressed Pant, who acknowledged his skill and experience. “He’s been an amazing bowler. The way he bowls line and length, especially in Test cricket, is quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in this condition,” Pant said, adding that it didn’t feel like Boland was a newcomer to Test cricket. Pant knows that tackling Boland will be key to India’s success in the second innings and stressed the need to keep adapting to his threat.

At the end of the first day, with Australia at 9/1 and trailing by 176 runs, the game was finely poised. While India’s batting issues were evident, Pant’s resilience, combined with the team’s belief in their competitive edge, left the door open for an intriguing Day 2. With Bumrah and the bowlers firing early, India will be hoping to capitalize on the conditions and build on their strong start in the field.