Rishabh Pant played a counter-attacking knock on the fifth day to give India hopes of chasing down a mammoth total, but three runs short of a century, he was dismissed looking to go to his hundred in style.

India had very little hope of winning the Test match as they walked out on day five at the SCG. But during the course of an intense morning session, Pant took down Nathan Lyon, Australia’s third highest Test wicket-taker, to give his side hopes of a famous comeback.

Unable to keep in the second innings after copping a blow on the arm while batting, Pant batted through the pain to keep India in the hunt.

With Cheteshwar Pujara for company, Pant took the attack to the Australians and India ate into the target at a healthy pace. He was saved by dropped catches from Tim Paine, but carried on unperturbed and raced towards a second Test century in Australia.

Unfortunately, he never got there. Three runs short of a hundred, Pant stepped out against Lyon to loft down the ground, but the sharp turn found the edge of his bat and the catch was pouched at backward point.

The outstanding innings had lifted India out from the abyss and Pant earned a lot of praise for his spectacular knock which almost resulted in a second Test hundred in Australia.

A counter-attacking 97 in a fourth innings chase in Australia.

Please keep this in mind the next time you are tempted to not back Pant.

At this age, he’s this good, if he keeps working on the game, how good he’ll turn out to be.

Team #PantFC forever! 💪 pic.twitter.com/6KFxdep8lr

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 11, 2021

Pant-astic batting display #brutal #AUSvIND @RishabhPant17 WE CAN 🔥

— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) January 11, 2021

Coming off a not-so-great time with the gloves. Critics on his back. A deadly bowling line-up. Injured hand. Day 5 pitch. Rishabh Pant is a 💎. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/wrAmlnLgQk

— Manya (@CSKian716) January 11, 2021

Broken elbow. 407 4th innings chase. Facing Starc, Cummins, Josh, Lyon. Walking in to bat at 117-3 after being promoted, Pant’s played an innings of a lifetime. His 97(118) is one of the GOAT knocks, irrespective of the result. He lived by the sword & died by it. A true warrior.

— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) January 11, 2021

If you bring up Pant’s hundreds on Twitter they come at you with, it was a flat wicket at SCG couple of years back. Was a dead game on another flat track at Old Trafford. Some just find it hard to accept this guy has cracked Test cricket with an approach they don’t quite enjoy

— Prashanth (@ps_it_is) January 11, 2021

However, the aggressive intent that resulted in his dismissal did not quite go down well with a section of fans, who criticised his ‘reckless’ batting.

Absolutely reckless shot from Pant and as expected from him, always play for the Gallery, after facing 118 balls one should capitalise to play a longer innings when you know Jadeja is not fit, typically nonsense

— Avik Mukherjee (@AvikMuk50280067) January 11, 2021

That shot from Rishabh Pant to get out was a very reckless one. He took away the hopes of many Indians from him and team India ! #AUSvIND

— Dr. Mukul Kumar (@WhiteCoat_no_48) January 11, 2021

He batted so well and really deserved a 100 but again, reckless pant #AUSvsIND

— Bane (@luxDaku) January 11, 2021

Rohit and pant should see the situation of match .. they both through their wickets by poor shots 😏

— Harpreet Singh (@Harpreet3295) January 11, 2021

Pant that’s a poor shot yuh lucky

— Brian Benjamin (@youngben21) January 10, 2021

However, as Harsha Bhogle pointed out, would India have got to where they did if Pant hadn’t played the way he did?

The century wasn’t to be. But it is easily Pant’s best test innings. You can’t fault him the shot because it was many of those that offered a glimmer of victory when none believed it was possible.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 11, 2021