Rishabh Pant’s Blistering Knock Helps India Post 141/6 On The Board (Day 2, Stumps)

January 4, 2025: On Day 2 of the fifth Border-Gavaskar Test, Rishabh Pant’s explosive half-century, alongside a resilient bowling performance, propelled India to a 145-run lead, with their second innings at 141/6 at stumps. Australia, earlier bowled out for 181, now faces a difficult task to stay alive in the match as they trail by 145 runs.

After resuming at 9/1, Australia’s hopes were dashed early as India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Jasprit Bumrah made the breakthrough in the fourth over of the day, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne for just 2 runs, which also saw him surpass Bishan Singh Bedi‘s record for the most wickets in an overseas Test series by an Indian bowler.

The Australian batting order then crumbled under the pressure. Mohammed Siraj struck a decisive blow, claiming two wickets in an over, removing Sam Konstas (23) and Travis Head (4), putting the hosts on the back foot. Steven Smith and debutant Beau Webster showed some resistance, but Smith was dismissed for 33 by Prasidh Krishna, and Australia were soon reduced to 166/9. Webster played a valiant knock of 57 runs off 105 balls, but was eventually dismissed, and the tail collapsed. Scott Boland was the last to fall, leaving Australia all out for 181, just 4 runs behind India’s first-innings total.

India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Siraj, Krishna, and Bumrah picking up three wickets each, while Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed with two.

India came out to bat in the final session with a slender 4-run lead, and the openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and KL Rahul (13), started fluently. However, the Indian top order soon faced setbacks. Scott Boland continued his fine form, removing Rahul and Jaiswal in quick succession, reducing India to 42/2. Then, Virat Kohli (17) fell cheaply, caught by Steve Smith in the slip off a delivery outside the off-stump, leaving India struggling at 59/3.

At this point, Pant entered the fray, and his counterattacking brilliance changed the course of the innings. He took on Mitchell Starc immediately, hitting him for a six on the first ball he faced. Pant then punished debutant Beau Webster, hitting him for three boundaries in an over, including two consecutive sixes to Starc. Pant raced to his half-century in just 29 balls, making it the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in Test cricket, behind his own record of 28 balls set against Sri Lanka in 2022.

Pant’s fireworks came to an end at 61 off 33 balls when Pat Cummins finally dismissed him. His knock, featuring six boundaries and four sixes, had lifted India to 124/5, providing crucial runs in a tense situation.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was dismissed shortly after, caught at mid-off by Cummins, leaving India at 124/6. At stumps, Ravindra Jadeja (8*) and Washington Sundar (6*) were unbeaten, ensuring India’s lead was extended to 145 runs.

With India at 141/6, the match is finely poised, and India will look to add more runs on Day 3 to put Australia under immense pressure. The Australian bowlers, led by Scott Boland’s impressive 4/42, will need to wrap up the tail quickly to keep their hopes alive of chasing down a challenging target. However, India’s bowlers, already in good form, will be looking forward to exploiting the deteriorating conditions and aiming to seal the series victory.

The stage is set for an exciting Day 3, with India holding the upper hand.