New Delhi:
Rishabh Pant's tour of Australia will be remembered for his quips behind the wickets that have taken not just social media, but the Australian Prime Minister by storm. However, in the final Test in Sydney, Pant let his bat do the talking as he blasted his second century to boost India towards a massive total. This is Pant's second century, having scored 114 in the final Test against England at The Oval. Pant's effort complimented Cheteshwar Pujara's magnificent 193, which was his third ton of the series. However, this has been a special tour for Pant, who has enjoyed himself for his keeping and for his sledging.
The attacking left-hander batted with calmness and maturity against the Australian pacers and gave good company with Pujara. When the Saurashtra right-hander departed for 193, Pant focused on milking singles and twos as India scored at a hefty pace. Pant employed the reverse sweep against Nathan Lyon and took some risks and he reached the landmark with a slog off Marnus Labuschagne to deep midwicket. He roared in delight and punched the air in delight as India crossed 500.
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Pant shattered a new world record for wicketkeepers as he took his 20th catch of the series between India and Australia during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. When Nathan Lyon edged a short ball from Ishant Sharma to the keeper, Pant broke the previous record of 19 which was set by Syed Kirmani and Naren Tamhane. Kirmani achieved the feat in the series against Pakistan in 1979 while Tamhane was the first to reach the mark in 1955 also against Pakistan. The remarkable thing about Pant’s record is that he has taken just three Tests to get to the landmark.
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Pant started off the tour in grand style by becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to take 11 catches in a match in the Adelaide Test which India won by 31 runs. The Delhi youngster became just the third wicketkeeper in history to take 11 catches after England’s Jack Russell and South Africa’s AB de Villiers. However, apart from his keeping, it has been Pant’s legendary sledges behind the wicket which has caught the attention of the cricket fans.
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It all began when Tim Paine, the Australia skipper, is heard over the stump microphone saying, “Now that Big MS back in the ODI squad, maybe he could play for the Hobart Hurricanes. Beautiful city rent a nice waterfront place. Do you babysit? I’ll take my wife to the movies one night and you can babysit,” Paine said in an epic way.
On the very next day, Pant was heard speaking to Mayank Agarwal when Paine came to the crease. “We got a special guest today. Have you ever heard of a temporary captain, ever, Mayank?” Pant said.
Pant had his moment in the sun when Paine came out to bat and referred to him as a “temporary captain”. “We got a special guest today. Have you ever heard of a temporary captain, ever, Mayank? You don't need anything to get him out, boy. He loves to talk, that's the only thing he can do, boy! Only, talking, talking, talking,” Pant retorted in grand style.
In Adelaide, his sledges, notably to Usman Khawaja when he said, “Not everyone is like Pujara here”. On the final day of the match, Pat Cummins was on the receiving end when Pant sledged him from behind by saying, “Come on Patty, we need some sixes now”.
Such has been his level of sledging in his series that the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, he was welcomed by saying, "Aah yes! You sledges right? You are very welcome. We like competitive game."
