January 4, 2025: India’s legendary batter, Sachin Tendulkar, was full of praise for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant following his breathtaking innings on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Pant played an exceptional knock of 61 runs off just 33 balls, showcasing his trademark aggressive style with six boundaries and four sixes. His strike rate of 184.85 on a challenging pitch, where most batters struggled to score quickly, caught the eye of cricketing legends, including Tendulkar.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tendulkar wrote:
“On a wicket where the majority of the batters have batted at a SR of 50 or less, @RishabhPant17’s knock with an SR of 184 is truly remarkable. He has rattled Australia from ball one. It is always entertaining to watch him bat. What an impactful innings!”
Pant’s fearless approach was evident from the outset, as he reached his fifty in just 29 balls, marking the second-fastest Test fifty by an Indian batter. The record for the fastest Test fifty still lies with Pant himself, having scored it in just 27 balls during India’s 2022 series against Sri Lanka. This remarkable feat against Australia in Sydney further highlights his ability to thrive under pressure in challenging conditions.
Tendulkar’s praise highlights how Pant’s aggressive style of batting, which has often been criticized by some, can also be an incredibly powerful weapon. His knock not only boosted India’s total but also rattled the Australian bowlers, providing a much-needed momentum shift.
Harsha Bhogle also weighed in on the day’s play, acknowledging the competitive nature of the match. Commenting on the state of the pitch and the balance of the game, Bhogle said:
“Extraordinary day of Test match cricket. The series is in the balance. Australia is ahead but not by a lot on a very difficult pitch. If Bumrah is fit to bowl, 180-185 would be a decent target. Otherwise, maybe, closer to 220.”
Bhogle’s remark underscores the challenges faced by both teams in Sydney, with the pitch providing uneven bounce and testing conditions for the batters. The return of Jasprit Bumrah, if fit to bowl, could prove crucial for India in setting a challenging target for Australia.
Pant’s scintillating knock has been a highlight of the Sydney Test, and his ability to turn the game on its head with his explosive batting continues to captivate fans and experts alike.
