Rishabh Pant's well-timed explosion of runs boosts India in the Sydney Test.

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Sydney: Up until Rishabh Pant stepped onto the field on Saturday, it was all about wickets falling in the Sydney Test. Australia had already lost nine wickets on Day 2 of the final Test, and India was struggling at 59/3 in their second innings. The batting conditions were tough, with a lively pitch and the tall Aussie bowlers putting on the pressure.

The day before, in similar circumstances, the left-hander managed a rather uncharacteristic 40 off 98 balls—he later admitted, “I wasn’t in the right mindset to take control.” But with the match and series at stake, he switched back to his fearless self, attacking the bowlers with a carefree attitude that only he seemed capable of in that moment.

By the end of the day, India was sitting at 141/6, largely thanks to Pant’s explosive 61 off just 33 balls. The next best score came from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made a quick 22 off 35 balls, hitting four boundaries.

Pant’s audacious innings wasn’t surprising; his unconventional style is well-known. However, to play like that right after facing criticism for his game awareness following the Melbourne Test loss showed his strong belief in himself. Had he gotten out early, he would have likely faced even more scrutiny.

He wasn't just swinging blindly; he made a calculated decision based on the pitch conditions and figured out that attacking was the way to go on that tricky SCG wicket with its uneven bounce, even before stepping onto the field.

Right from the first delivery, the Australian bowlers realized he was on the offensive. He charged at Scott Boland and smashed a six. Sure, he missed the next ball, but that didn’t faze him; he was committed to his approach.

This was exactly the aggressive style India wanted from Pant. However, throughout the series, he often seemed unsure. But that wasn’t the case on Saturday.

He unleashed a series of shots: a falling pull, a flat-batted drive down the ground, and some big slogs over deep square leg as he sped towards a fifty. After taking some hits in the first innings and scoring 40 off 98 balls, he turned it around to make 40 off just 20 balls.

A pick-up shot over midwicket for six helped Pant reach his fifty in just 29 balls, making it the second-fastest fifty for India in Test cricket. The record for the fastest, at 28 balls, also belongs to Pant.

To celebrate his fifty, he smashed another six and then went after a wide delivery from Pat Cummins. Unfortunately, he edged it, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey made the catch. As he left the field, it felt like a whirlwind had passed through. You could finally take a breath and relax in your seats… because while he was batting, no one dared to move.

“On a pitch where most batters have struggled with a strike rate of 50 or less, @RishabhPant17’s innings at a strike rate of 184 is simply outstanding. He has put Australia on the back foot right from the start. Watching him bat is always a thrill. What a game-changing performance!” commented former India star Sachin Tendulkar on X.

While Pant's innings did shake things up for Australia, it was the kind of performance the hosts had anticipated since the beginning of the series.

First off, it’s not really a shock considering his style of play. We were a bit taken aback during the first innings by how he approached things, said Australia coach Andrew McDonald. He has this amazing knack for putting pressure back on the bowlers.

We’ve been preparing for that, though; we had some plans in place as we headed into the summer. We tried out a few different strategies. He definitely kept challenging the boundary riders and was getting away with it. You could say that innings was perfect for that moment.

Honestly, whenever Pant is at the crease, it’s always a thrilling experience. Sure, he might mess up sometimes, but his overall goal to chase a win or push the game forward is always spot on. That’s what sets him apart; that’s what makes him Pant.

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