Rishabh Pant stepped up big time for India on Day 2 of the fifth and final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the SCG on Saturday. Coming in at number 4, he unleashed a powerful innings, scoring 61 runs off just 33 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes, with a strike rate of 184.85. This performance helped him silence the doubters after a rough patch in the series. So far, he’s accumulated 255 runs across five matches and nine innings, averaging 28.33 with a strike rate of 59.02, including one half-century.

His innings on Saturday also marked a milestone, as he crossed the 5,000-run mark in international cricket for India. Pant's explosive performance had social media buzzing, with fans and former players celebrating the wicketkeeper-batter's comeback.

Kris Srikkanth takes a jab at Australia

Kris Srikkanth, the Indian cricket legend, jumped on X to share a funny take on Pant's performance. He said, “What a performance by Pant! He’s really taken the pants off the Aussies!”

Day 2 was a whirlwind with 15 wickets tumbling, making it a thrilling day of cricket. The Indian bowlers really stepped up, even with Jasprit Bumrah only managing 10 overs. Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy were on fire, helping India dismiss the Aussies for just 181 runs. Going into the second innings, India held a slim lead of four runs. Beau Webster, the Aussie debutant, was the standout performer for the home team, scoring a solid half-century.

Even though the hosts were trailing, Bumrah's fitness had everyone on edge, and he had to get a scan after lunch. The Indian openers got off to a decent start, but Boland came back strong, taking three wickets. India went from 42/1 to 78/4, losing their grip on the game, but then Pant stepped up to save the day. By the end, the visitors had a lead of 145 runs. With the series at 1-2, a win in Sydney would mean India finishes the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on a high note.

After the day's play, Simon Katich shared his thoughts, saying, “I like both personalities. I liked what I saw from him yesterday; it was tough out there, and he really applied himself, especially after the criticism he faced for his performances at the MCG, which ultimately cost India that Test.”

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