Rishabh Pant: Watch Pant smashes Nathan Lyon for massive six during Sydney Test

Rishabh Pant smashes Nathan Lyon: The Indian wicket-keeper batsman has brought back his team into the match at the SCG.

During the fifth day of the third Test of the ongoing India’s tour of Australia in Sydney, India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant justified the team management’s decision to promote him at No. 5 by scoring his third half-century.

Chasing a formidable 407-run target, India were short by 309 runs last evening. What further didn’t help was captain Ajinkya Rahane (4) departing cheaply off Australia spinner Nathan Lyon in the first 10 minutes of the last day.

Pant, who was expected to bat “if required” due to his elbow injury, appeared to be batting in significant pain but the same didn’t prevent him from giving his best in a daunting situation.

Having attacked Lyon first to break the shackles in the 48th over, the 23-year old player once again targeted the spinner to hit consecutive sixes in the 56th over. Despite Australia captain Tim Paine having fielders at the boundary for Pant, the latter successfully cleared the boundary on several occasions at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

With India scoring 108 runs in the first session, it was given them a significant chance of winning and not just drawing. While it still is a long way to go especially after considering that the pitch will deteriorate further, Pant has surely turned the tabled in the morning session.

Rishabh Pant smashes Nathan Lyon

Pant’s enjoying himself out there now!

Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/KwwZDwbdzO pic.twitter.com/FTob8nSVtC

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 11, 2021

How Twitterati reacted:

100-run stand between the odd couple, Pujara and Pant! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9SdHd1rCO0

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 11, 2021

And that, folks, is what I refer to as A Gripping Session Of Test Cricketing. #AUSvIND

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) January 11, 2021

That was one of best sessions on this series. Tense, gripping, both attritional and exhilarating and it leaves the match full of possibilities. Australia still favourites, but India can dream. #INDvAUS

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) January 11, 2021

Rishabh Pant is the only batsman in this India XI who has a century in 4th innings in Tests. He looks on course to score one more and take India in history books. Chase of 407 is on! #AusvInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 11, 2021

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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