The India tour of Australia 2020-21 will always be special for not only many Indian cricket fans, but also cricket fans across the world. It was the perfect story of triumph as a injury ravaged Indian team beat the mighty Aussies in their home patch. The series gave a glimpse into the future as few of the names have now become household names like Siraj and Sundar. One man though made a reputation for himself and has gone to achieve good heights in test cricket is Rishabh Pant.
Rishabh Pant recalls being angry at Pujara –
Rishabh Pant was dropped for the first test at Adelaide for the experience of Saha. India were bowled out for 36 and lost the match despite being in a strong position. The Indian team got Pant back for the MCG test, which was won by India and drew level at 1-1. The true test started at SCG, as India had to bat an entire day out to salvage a draw. But Pant had other ideas, as he went after the Australian bowling and suddenly the mood changed. It looked as if India would win the game, but against the run of play, Pant went for a huge hit and was dismissed by Lyon caught by Cummins for 97. Pant said “ (Pujara said) ‘Rishabh… see for a while, try to stick. You can work in singles, doubles too. You don’t have to hit a boundary’. I got a little angry that they put me in this double-minded state. Because I like it when I’m very clear in my plans that this is what I want to do. We had built such a good momentum. In my mind the only thing at that time was ‘damn, what just happened?’ Because if I reached 100 there, it would have been one of my best”
Rahane recalls the incident –
Ajinkya Rahane was the stand in captain after Kohli had gone back home to welcome the birth of his first child. Rahane was happy to see the kind of innings played by Pant, but could feel the pain of the youngster who had missed a chance to score a century. This would have been Pant’s 2nd successive century at SCG after his 159 not out in 2019. Rahane said “When he came in, he was disappointed and angry and he said, ‘Pujara bhai came and reminded me that I was on 97. I wasn’t even aware. Had he not said anything, I would have probably completed by hundred”. Pant though more than made up for it when he scored an unbeaten 89 in the final test at Gabba to win India the test and the series. India had tamed the Australians at their home patch of Gabba a fortress which wasn’t breached for 33 years.
Twitter has its say –
Twitter came out in force to have its say on what Pant said about missing his century with the tweets which you can read below.
Rishabh Pant said when he got out on 97 in Sydney, he thought he could've won the match had he batted longer. It didn't matter to him that he had to take two injections and sedatives before batting. (To TOI).
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 24, 2021
Pant's 97 in Sydney is underrated. He single handedly turned a certain loss at 102-3 to a possible win chasing 408 on the final day.
— Ketan (@ketanbangerking) May 26, 2022