IND vs AUS, 5th Test: Rishabh Pant lit up the Sydney Cricket Ground with a blistering knock of 61 runs off just 33 balls, smashing six fours and four sixes during India’s second innings. His exceptional innings saw him become the fastest visiting batter to score a Test fifty in Australia, achieving the milestone in just 29 balls. Pant surpassed a 50-year-old record held by England’s John Brown (1895) and West Indies’ Roy Fredericks (1975).
This feat also marked Pant’s second-fastest Test half-century, narrowly behind his 28-ball fifty against Sri Lanka in 2022. Despite his brilliance, Pant’s stay at the crease ended prematurely when Australian skipper Pat Cummins took his catch.
Former Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to applaud Pant's impactful innings, writing:
"On a wicket where the majority of the batters have batted at a strike rate of 50 or less, Rishabh Pant's knock with a strike rate 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 aggressive approach provided a much-needed spark for India, but the visitors ended the day struggling at 141/6 with a lead of 145 runs. Australian pacer Scott Boland once again shone with the ball, claiming four wickets for 42 runs, including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli.
The match hangs in the balance, but Pant’s fearless batting has demonstrated his ability to turn the tide with his aggressive and entertaining style.
Updated on 4th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.