Before becoming a victim of a severe car crash and being elected as the captain of IPL outfit Delhi Capitals, Wicket-Keeper Batsman Rishabh Pant became a global cricket superstar in 2021, thanks to his antics at the GABBA during the last test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Aaj Bhi Rongte Khade Ho Jaate Hain 🥺
🎥 Relive that iconic #RP17 winning run and 🇮🇳 breaching Fortress Gabba 🤩#RishabhPant #AUSvIND | @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/o1Dal1sO0U
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) January 19, 2023
If you are a true lover cricket, especially test cricket then Pant’s innings will never be forgotten. The visitors were having rough time in that series due to a series of injuries and Captain Virat Kohli‘s absence. Not many had given India any chances of clinching the series but on this day in 2021, all the doubts were erased by Rishabh Pant.
To give you a short backdrop of the 2021 Border-Gavaskar trophy, India had a disastrous first Test at the Adelaide Oval. The tourists after scoring 244 runs in the first innings were bowled out for only 36 runs in the 2nd innings. As a result Australia were given a target of 90 runs to win and so they did by losing just 2 wickets.
In the second test Ajinkya Rahane was the captain of India in the absence of Virat Kohli. Rahane led the team very well and staged an outstanding comeback to win the 2nd Test by 8 wickets. And after a draw in the 3rd test came Rishabh Pant’s blistering knock which took the Aussies by surprise.
On this day in 2021, India conquered Gabba, 36 all-out to winning the Test series in Australia.
The Greatest comeback in cricket history led by Rishabh Pant.pic.twitter.com/Omruw7abQO
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 18, 2023
The day was a little special for me too. It was the occasion of my sister’s wedding and all the ceremonies were on full stretch. Our celebration got more special when we found out that India are likely to win from an unthinkable situation.
In the first innings, Australia had set up a total of 369 runs and in response India got all-out for 336 – meaning the Aussies had the lead by 33 runs. In the second Australian innings, India received a target of 327 runs.
Shubman Gill ✅
Cheteshwar Pujara ✅
Rishabh Pant ✅
Washington Sundar ✅
Shardul Thakur ✅
Mohammed Siraj ✅The heroes of Gabba 😎😎#India #SAvIND #INDvAUS #Cricket #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/kLzZXUz3Aj
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) January 19, 2023
India started off quite well. After Rohit Sharma’s cheap dismissal at 7 runs, Shubhman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the innings by building a 114-run partnership. Gill got out after scoring 91 important runs followed by Rahane’s dismissal at 24.
In came the then 24-year-old Rishabh pant into the middle of Brisbane Cricket stadium. All eyes were on him because he was the second last recognized batter remaining in the line-up. He started the innings on fire – knitting small but effective partnerships with Pujara, Mayank Aggarwal, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur.
But by the time India lost these above mentioned batters, Rishabh Pant had done the initial job very well. He played like a true warrior and his love for the game and country was on display as he scored a very mature 89 off 138 balls to register themselves in the history books.
#OnThisDay 2021 | Rishabh Pant finished as India's leading run-scorer in a stunning series performance against Australia 🤩
🇮🇳 Runs: 274
🇮🇳 Average: 68.50
🇮🇳 Strike-rate: 69.89 pic.twitter.com/x3URpEa520— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 19, 2023
None of that would have been possible without Rishabh Pant’s inning and as a result India won the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2021 by 2-1 and also became the toughest bunch of men to ever play cricket for INDIA.
