NEW DELHI: India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant lit up the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday with a breathtaking 61 off just 33 balls in the second innings of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His explosive knock, which featured six fours and four sixes, left fans and experts in awe, including Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Pant raced to a 29-ball fifty – India’s second-fastest in Tests – by launching Mitchell Starc into the stands. This feat was second only to his own 28-ball half-century against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022.
Pant also etched his name into history as the fastest visiting batter to reach a Test fifty on Australian soil, surpassing the 33-ball efforts of England’s John Brown (1895) and West Indies’ Roy Fredericks (1975).
However, Pant’s fiery innings came to an end shortly after reaching his milestone. He was caught behind off Pat Cummins, bringing his scintillating knock to a close.
Following Pant’s electrifying display, Tendulkar took to social media platform X to applaud the young batter.
“On a wicket where the majority of the batters have batted at a SR of 50 or less, @RishabhPant17’s knock with a SR of 184 is truly remarkable. He has rattled Australia from ball one. It is always entertaining to watch him bat. What an impactful innings!” Tendulkar wrote.
Despite Pant’s heroics, India ended the second day precariously placed at 141/6, holding a 145-run lead. Scott Boland continued his stellar form for Australia, claiming four wickets for 42 runs, including the prized dismissal of Virat Kohli (6).
With the game hanging in the balance, Pant’s whirlwind innings could prove to be a decisive moment in the match, underscoring his unique ability to turn the tide with his fearless batting.
