India’s swashbuckling wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant showcased once again the love he has for Test cricket. With a century against Bangladesh in Chennai, Rishabh Pant soared back to his best in the whites. But, it wasn’t just his strokeplay that got everyone’s attention, the grit and determination Rishabh Pant showed on his return to his favorite format after a life taking survival from an accident is nothing short of a fairy tale.
In the match, Rishabh Pant hit his sixth Test century, his first since returning to competitive cricket after recovering from injuries that he suffered during a near-fatal car crash in December 2022. Thanks to centuries by Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, India set Bangladesh a gigantic target of 515 to chase. The tourists started well but didn’t have the required gas in the tank to go all the way. They were bowled out for 234 in their second innings at Chepauk to give India a massive 280 runs win over Bangladesh.
Post his successful return to the longest format which earned him the name household, India would be happy that finally a missing dangerous wheel in the middle order in form of Rishabh Pant is found when they will tour to the Australian shores for the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Rishabh Pant’s incredible record in Australia
Rishabh Pant was integral to India’s cause in their back-to-back series wins in Australia on their last two tours to the country. He has scored 624 runs in seven Tests that he played in Australia with one century and two half-centuries. Rishabh Pant averages 62.40 in Australia and notably has a strike rate of 72.13.
He was the second-highest run scorer for India in their series win in 2018/19, which marked the first time an Asian team had beaten Australia in a Test series at their home. However, he is better remembered for his heroics in the 2020/21 series. Rishabh Pant had gone into the tour with his place in the side on shaky grounds.
He ended up being India’s highest run scorer, and his most notable knock was a stunning 89 not out off 138 balls in the last Test which led India to victory chasing 328 runs. It marked the first time in over three decades that a team had beaten Australia in a Test match at the Gabba.
Rishabh Pant, who will turn 27 in October, has played seven Test matches against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 624 runs at an average of 62.40, with one century to his credit. The left-handed batter played four Tests during the 2018-19 tour and scored 350 runs at an average of 58.33. He scored a brilliant 159* in the Sydney contest. During the 2020-21 tour, the keeper-batter contributed 274 runs, averaging 68.50.
Rishabh Pant scored a counter-attacking 97 in Sydney, helping India save the Test. He then smashed 89* in Brisbane as India ended the Aussies’ undefeated streak at The Gabba and clinched the series 2-1.
Pat Cummins said that keeping Rishabh Pant quiet would be important for Australia as they chase their first Test series win against India since 2014/15. In his first Test back, Rishabh Pant registered scores of 39 and 109 against Bangladesh as India won by a massive 280-run margin
Australia’s equivalent to Rishabh Pant , Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head as the duo can take the game on by being aggressive expressed their views on the explosiveness Rishabh Pant can be on the field while playing in Australia.
Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head in all praise for Indian swashbuckling batter Rishabh Pant ahead of BGT 2024-25
Aussie opener Travis Head and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh have picked the one Indian batter they believe is most Australian. Both went for keeper-batter Rishabh Pant. According to Head, the Indian stumper would be fun to play with because of the way he goes about his work. On the other hand, Marsh is impressed with the cricketer’s mix of aggression and relaxed persona.
Rishabh Pant made a brilliant comeback to red-ball cricket for India during the first Test against Bangladesh at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Having last played a Test in December 2022 against the same opposition, a few days before his car accident, the southpaw announced his return with 39 and 109 in the Chepauk Test, which India won by 280 runs.
India will be touring down under for five Tests as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from November 2024 to January 2025. The build-up to the much-awaited series has already begun. In a video shared on Star Sports, Marsh and Head praised Pant, while naming him as the Indian cricketer who they feel is most Australian.
“The Indian cricketer I believe is most Australian would be Rishabh Pant. I think the way he goes about his aggressive nature, the way he goes about his work, he’d be very enjoyable to play with,” Head commented.
“He’s a ripping bloke. I wish he was Australian. He’s obviously been through a lot the last few years. Hell of a comeback. He’s a positive guy, he’s still very young, he loves winning. He’s highly competitive for someone who, I guess, has the persona of being relaxed – always laughing and smiling. He has got that big smile,” Marsh opined about the Indian wicketkeeper.
While Rishabh Pant is yet to deliver consistently in white-ball cricket for India, he possesses an excellent record in Test cricket. After 34 matches, he has 2,419 runs to his name at an average of 44.8, with six hundreds and 11 half-centuries. With such an incredible red ball record and a newly found form , Indian batter Rishabh Pant would be an obvious threat to the Australians and a boost to the Indian middle order in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.