5 Min Read
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 starts amid much fanfare at Perth on November 22 with Team India hoping to recreate their historic feat from three years back to clinch the tournament despite the odds being set against them.
The background and lead up have been somewhat similar for both the series’, with a spate of injuries and poor form standing between the Men in Blue and the coveted championship. In 2020-21 though, what stood between the Australians and the series win was a mercurial Rishabh Pant, who with his clutch mentality and swashbuckling skills helped the visitors pull off a heist at the Gabba to return home with a 2-1 win margin.
Pant’s 89* in the final day of the Test at Brisbane is heralded as one of the greatest Test innings played by an Indian, especially on foreign soil. While the stakes were high in the decisive clash, the southpaw refrained from playing it safe, going for a draw, to settle the series for 1-1, and instead personified the new-age devil-may-care ruthlessly ambitious attitude of Team India by going for the kill and helping the Men in Blue become the first side to beat Australia at Gabba in 32 years.
Also Read: Ravi Shastri hails Pant’s ‘miracle’ recovery: Never thought he’d play again
With the kind of batting Pant does, Australia is tailor-made for him to succeed, in all fairness. He is remarkable against short-length deliveries, playing the pull and cut shots to perfection. Anything pitched up is deposited to the stands and he is someone who can help them take on Nathan Lyon and not let the wily off-spinner settle into a rhythm with his skilful top-spin.
Test stats in 2024
The calendar year 2024 has arguably not been the best for Team India in terms of results. However, upon returning from his horrific car accident and the subsequent injury layoff, Pant has made the right moves and let his bat do all the talking. During a phase when most Indian batters struggled against the visiting Bangladeshi and New Zealand spinners, Pant has amassed 422 runs in 10 innings at an average of 46.89. With 50 fours and 12 maximums, the player has brought up three half-centuries and a solitary ton – bringing stability, firepower, and confidence in the middle-order at a time of uncertainty.
Pant’s record against Australia in Test cricket has been incredible, smashing 624 runs in seven matches at an average of 62.40 with the help of two half-centuries and a ton. He in fact touched the three-figure mark for the first time in his maiden tour in 2018-19, making hay at a Sydney Test that India drew to seal their first series win Down Under.
IPL Mega Auction: Where is Rishabh Pant headed to?
While the Test series garners all attention, Pant will keep an eye out for the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction set to take place at Jeddah on November 24-25. In what is likely to be amongst the most marquee IPL auctions of all time, Pant is set to go under the hammer after parting ways with the Delhi Capitals (DC) earlier this month.
Pant has painted a pretty picture with his statistics in the multi-team tournament, aggregating 3284 runs at an average and strike rate of 35.31 and 148.93 respectively, thanks to 18 half-centuries and one century. He was associated with DC right from the beginning of his IPL career in 2016, with the team retaining him in the following two cycles. Middle-order Indian batters are worth their weight in gold in the IPL. Further, he is a left-handed player, helping them take on the wrist spinners and left-arm off spinners, with them turning the ball into him, helping him unleash his natural hitting arc towards the square leg and mid-wicket areas.
Also Read: 'I've wanted to do the tough job since I was a child', Jasprit Bumrah on stepping into captaincy role
With 75 catches and 23 stump outs, he is also effective from behind the stumps. Pant was a part of the national team in their historic victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. In the current day and age, he embodies the quintessential T20 player, and he will be amongst the most sought after players in the mega auction. Another aspect swinging things in his favour will be his captaincy credentials, having led DC to the playoffs in 2021. His ability to marshal the troops will be instrumental with plenty of teams looking for a captain once the bidding begins.
Several top-drawer Indian players have gone into the IPL auction process earlier, but none perhaps bigger than Pant in the present-day T20 cricket landscape. His charismatic on and off field persona makes him a desirable face for several teams and with bigger purses, Pant could be staring at a big payday come next week. Regardless to say, the next few months hold significant importance for the 27-year-old, at both the club and country level.
The background and lead up have been somewhat similar for both the series’, with a spate of injuries and poor form standing between the Men in Blue and the coveted championship. In 2020-21 though, what stood between the Australians and the series win was a mercurial Rishabh Pant, who with his clutch mentality and swashbuckling skills helped the visitors pull off a heist at the Gabba to return home with a 2-1 win margin.
Most runs by an Indian cricketer vs Australia in Tests (active players)
2074 - Cheteshwar Pujara (45 innings)
2042 - Virat Kohli (44 innings)
1225 - Ajinkya Rahane (34 innings)
708 - Rohit Sharma (22 innings)
624 - Rishabh Pant (12 innings) pic.twitter.com/WtLl6Nu9ux
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 21, 2024
Pant’s 89* in the final day of the Test at Brisbane is heralded as one of the greatest Test innings played by an Indian, especially on foreign soil. While the stakes were high in the decisive clash, the southpaw refrained from playing it safe, going for a draw, to settle the series for 1-1, and instead personified the new-age devil-may-care ruthlessly ambitious attitude of Team India by going for the kill and helping the Men in Blue become the first side to beat Australia at Gabba in 32 years.
Also Read: Ravi Shastri hails Pant’s ‘miracle’ recovery: Never thought he’d play again
With the kind of batting Pant does, Australia is tailor-made for him to succeed, in all fairness. He is remarkable against short-length deliveries, playing the pull and cut shots to perfection. Anything pitched up is deposited to the stands and he is someone who can help them take on Nathan Lyon and not let the wily off-spinner settle into a rhythm with his skilful top-spin.
Test stats in 2024
The calendar year 2024 has arguably not been the best for Team India in terms of results. However, upon returning from his horrific car accident and the subsequent injury layoff, Pant has made the right moves and let his bat do all the talking. During a phase when most Indian batters struggled against the visiting Bangladeshi and New Zealand spinners, Pant has amassed 422 runs in 10 innings at an average of 46.89. With 50 fours and 12 maximums, the player has brought up three half-centuries and a solitary ton – bringing stability, firepower, and confidence in the middle-order at a time of uncertainty.
Pant’s record against Australia in Test cricket has been incredible, smashing 624 runs in seven matches at an average of 62.40 with the help of two half-centuries and a ton. He in fact touched the three-figure mark for the first time in his maiden tour in 2018-19, making hay at a Sydney Test that India drew to seal their first series win Down Under.
IPL Mega Auction: Where is Rishabh Pant headed to?
While the Test series garners all attention, Pant will keep an eye out for the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction set to take place at Jeddah on November 24-25. In what is likely to be amongst the most marquee IPL auctions of all time, Pant is set to go under the hammer after parting ways with the Delhi Capitals (DC) earlier this month.
Mid week energy. ????????️????#RP17 pic.twitter.com/6j5kUMq1QD
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) November 20, 2024
Pant has painted a pretty picture with his statistics in the multi-team tournament, aggregating 3284 runs at an average and strike rate of 35.31 and 148.93 respectively, thanks to 18 half-centuries and one century. He was associated with DC right from the beginning of his IPL career in 2016, with the team retaining him in the following two cycles. Middle-order Indian batters are worth their weight in gold in the IPL. Further, he is a left-handed player, helping them take on the wrist spinners and left-arm off spinners, with them turning the ball into him, helping him unleash his natural hitting arc towards the square leg and mid-wicket areas.
Also Read: 'I've wanted to do the tough job since I was a child', Jasprit Bumrah on stepping into captaincy role
With 75 catches and 23 stump outs, he is also effective from behind the stumps. Pant was a part of the national team in their historic victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. In the current day and age, he embodies the quintessential T20 player, and he will be amongst the most sought after players in the mega auction. Another aspect swinging things in his favour will be his captaincy credentials, having led DC to the playoffs in 2021. His ability to marshal the troops will be instrumental with plenty of teams looking for a captain once the bidding begins.
Several top-drawer Indian players have gone into the IPL auction process earlier, but none perhaps bigger than Pant in the present-day T20 cricket landscape. His charismatic on and off field persona makes him a desirable face for several teams and with bigger purses, Pant could be staring at a big payday come next week. Regardless to say, the next few months hold significant importance for the 27-year-old, at both the club and country level.
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Live TV
Loading...