Wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant was one of India’s stars against Australia on day two of the fourth Test, smashing a magnificent 159* at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The left-hander played a pivotal role in his team’s dominating performance on the day – India declared at 622/7 – notching up invaluable partnerships with Cheteshwar Pujara (89 runs) and Ravindra Jadeja (204 runs).
After Pujara was dismissed for a masterly 193, Pant soldiered on and batting aggressively, especially after reaching his hundred. He ascribed the effort to the freedom given to him by the team.
150 runs for @RishabPant777 👏👏👏#TeamIndia 616/6#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vZFY9hunBL
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 4, 2019
“The best part of my batting is that everyone has given me the freedom to express myself,” he said. “So every time that I go to bat I enjoy myself.
“The team plan was to bat for as long as possible. I was batting according to the plan and runs came as a result.”
And while Australia struggled to break India down – just one dismissal per session – Pant said that it wasn’t due to lack of effort on the bowlers’ part.
The Australia openers make it to stumps without yielding their wicket, but India remain in peak position after their brilliant batting effort earlier in the day.#AUSvIND
Full scorecard ⬇️https://t.co/eaCQ8IqbFf pic.twitter.com/jdCvzAuqxV
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 4, 2019
“Obviously, when you bat for too long, the body gets tired. But their body language was good,” Pant told the reporters after the day’s play. “They were pushing themselves to do well. But today we did well and that’s why we got this score.”
Having missed on two centuries in recent past – he was dismissed for twin scored of 92 in India’s home Tests against the West Indies last year – Pant admitted to being nervous at Sydney.
“It’s a way to keep yourself positive,” said Pant about his tete-a-tete with Paine. “To keep yourself busy. If you’re fielding for a long time, the body gets tired. But how you keep yourself positive and not let your concentration wane is up to you. This is my way to do it and it’s working for me.”
On this pic with Mrs. Paine he said, “It was lovely meeting them[but] I don’t think I have to change myself for something like that. The only thing [is that] they put that photo in Instagram and it got viral. Nothing [babysitting] like that.”
