Ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian skipper Pat Cummins praised India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, acknowledging his ability to turn games around with his aggressive style of play.
Pant, who recently made a heroic return to Test cricket after a life-threatening road accident in late 2022, impressed everyone with a commanding 109-run knock from 128 balls during India’s second innings in the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. His efforts contributed to India’s massive 280-run victory in that match.
Speaking on Star Sports, Cummins highlighted the challenge Pant presents to any bowling side due to his unpredictable and aggressive approach, comparing him to Australia’s own dynamic players like Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. Cummins specifically praised Pant’s audacious reverse lap shot, calling it “incredible,” and remarked how Pant has consistently influenced key Test series, particularly against Australia. He emphasized that Australia would need to “keep him quiet” in the upcoming series to prevent him from taking the game away from them.
Cummins’s remarks come as the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to kick off on November 22 in Perth, followed by a day-night Test in Adelaide (December 6-10), a Test in Brisbane (December 14-18), the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (December 26-30), and the final clash at Sydney (January 3-7). The series holds special significance, as India has dominated the recent contests, winning four consecutive series against Australia, including two on Australian soil (2018-19 and 2020-21).
Pant’s record in the Border-Gavaskar series is formidable, having scored 624 runs in seven Test matches against Australia at a strike rate of 72.13. His impact in past series, including his match-winning knock in the Gabba Test during the 2020-21 series, is still fresh in the minds of both teams, making him a key player to watch in the upcoming contest.
India has claimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 10 times, compared to Australia’s five wins, with the Aussies last clinching the series in 2014-15.
