This innings is probably one of the most important and most celebrated innings that any cricketer has played in test cricket in the past decade plus and the context in which this innings was played is something which will never be forgotten by Indian cricket fans forever. This just like the 281 by VVS Laxman will always be at the top of the greatest test innings ever played.
Rishabh Pant was in a rich vein of form leading into the last Border Gavaskar Trophy and he was the hero that won India that series. So, let’s look at this monumental innings with the full context.
Team India were without their main players for the 4th Test
No cricket fan should ever forget that for the all important 4th test , the Indian team was reduced by more than half as a string of injuries meant that the main players were not a part of that team. First, Virat Kohli left after the first test match for personal reasons and then they lost Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin to name a few. Their bowling attack consisted of Mohammad Siraj, Washington Sundar, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur who had the combined experience of 4 Test Matches.
Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar had a brilliant partnership
In the first innings of this test match India were in a spot of bother and they needed a partnership and then two young players in Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur stepped up for India and they took India from 186 for 6 and had a 123 run stand where both of them hit great half centuries and India got to 336 in the first innings and were only trailing by 33 runs.
Also Read | 109 Run Partnership between MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir in 2011 ODI World Cup Final
Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur lead from the ball in the second innings
After India batted so well in the first innings then they had to bowl in the second innings and Mohammad Siraj was the perfect leader in this innings as he took his first 5 wicket haul and Shardul Thakur took 4 wickets in this innings and their excellent bowling meant that India had to chase 328 on the final day of the test series at Gabba.
Also Read | Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid Partnership of 331 runs vs New Zealand
The Rishabh Pant Masterclass
It was important to understand the context of the match before talking about this innings by Rishabh Pant. When the chase started it was Shubman Gill who started in explosive fashion as he tonked all the Aussie bowlers all around the park and he hit 91 from 146 balls while hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes. He missed out a Hundred but he laid the perfect platform and then came Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant who are like chalk and cheese. Pujara batted for 211 balls and scored 56 runs while taking blows all over his body.
And then Rishabh Pant arrived at the crease and the situation was tense but he started to play his shots and he was not afraid to hit fours and sixes at will. He attacked Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to all parts of the Gabba and in only 138 balls and smashing 9 fours and 1 six he stayed not out and won the match for India. And he will forever be one of the main heroes of Indian test cricket. All the Indian cricket fans wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully he will be back very soon on a cricket pitch smashing the bowlers.
Also Read: Talking about the 376 run partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid
