The Indian wicket-keeper, Rishabh Pant smashed his second Test on Day 2 of the ongoing final game of the four-match Test series against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). He played an unbeaten knock of 159 off just 189 balls with the help of 15 boundaries and a humungous six. India declared their first innings at the score of 622/7 after tiring the Australian bowlers for almost 168 overs.
Pant’s ton came from a four off spinner Marnus Labuschagne. He reached the highest score by an Indian wicket-keeper on the overseas soil as he surpassed MS Dhoni’s tally of 148, which he scored in Faisalabad against Pakistan. It was also his personal highest score in his small Test career of 9 matches as he scored his first Test century at the Oval against England last year when he smashed 114.
WATCH – Tim Paine Appreciates Rishabh Pant’s Gesture
With the ton in Sydney, Pant also became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century on the Australian soil. He also became the only second visiting wicket-keeper to register Test centuries both in England and Australia. Jeffery Dujon, with centuries in Manchester and Perth in 1984, was the first wicket-keeper batsman to do so.
A moment to remember for Rishabh Pant!#AUSvIND | @Domaincomau pic.twitter.com/J8uK3gQPJh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2019
Pant is now the second highest run-scorer in the ongoing four-Test series in Australia as he has now surpassed Virat Kohli’s tally of 282 runs and trails only Cheteshwar Pujara, who leads with 521 runs. Moreover, he also became the first wicket-keeper from the subcontinent to score more than 200 runs and take 20 catches in a Test series in overseas conditions.
Highest scores by a visiting wicket-keeper in Australia
169 – AB de Villiers (Perth) Nov 2012
140*- Rishabh Pant (Sydney) today#AusvInd#AusvsInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 4, 2019
Rishabh Pant is now the only 2nd visiting wicket-keeper to register Test 100s both in England and Australia.
Jeffery Dujon was the first – 100s at Manchester & Perth in 1984 #AusvInd#AusvsInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 4, 2019
Performance of Indian glovemen in Australia:
Rishabh has taken 20 catches in the series and as far as dismissals are concerned, Dhoni held the most in Australia: 35 (31 catches, four stumpings) followed by Kirmani with 27 (18 catches, nine stumpings).
Currently, the Indian team is having an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series as they won the Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne. With Rishabh’s century chances of India’s loss in the series has demeaned further as the Australian batsmen have already been down and out in the series so far.
The southpaw was applauded by a host of celebrated stars on social media, here are some of the reactions:
After Pujara’s brilliant 193, Rishabh Pant has assured that India put the game firmly out of Australia’s grip. Very impressed by his temperament today and congratulations to him on his 2nd overseas 100, 1 in Eng and now 1 in Aus, only the 2nd wk after Jeff Dujjon to do so pic.twitter.com/uSg60n98nb
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 4, 2019
Fast and furious, @RishabPant777 doing what he knows best. What an achievement! @cheteshwar1 always the backbone of our attack. Strong & steady! #power #INDvsAUS
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 4, 2019
First Indian Keeper to score a Test ton in England.
First Indian keeper to score a Test ton in Australia.
And it’s only his 9th Test. What an asset he can be in times to come…. #AusvInd #7cricket @7Cricket @1116sen— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 4, 2019
Leave the baby sitting to us.. you please continue being the Boss Baby 👶🏻 @RishabPant777 .. Many more to follow 🙌🏻 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/h68TQBp7Ct
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) January 4, 2019
Pantastic ! Wonderful 100 from @RishabPant777 , 2nd overseas century and now the 2nd highest run getter in the series after Pujara. Yeah Baby! Sitter pic.twitter.com/k8HNvJjFMm
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 4, 2019
After Rishabh Pant babysat Tim Paine's babies, he went on to babysit his boys.
And they behaved. #AusvInd
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 4, 2019
Top innings by @RishabPant777. His talent is undoubted but have enjoyed his composure and the manner in which he has built his innings. Still got there in 137 balls! In a couple of years, he will be India's no 6.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 4, 2019
hundreds in england & australia in his first few months of test cricket, a bunch of catches and exceptional babysitting skills – rishabh pant has to be among the most productive 21-year olds around #AUSvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 4, 2019
#AUSvIND
We’ve got Pant
Rishab Pant
I just don’t think you’ll understand
He’ll hit you for a six
He’ll babysit your kids
We’ve got Rishab Pant
.
.
.#BharatArmySongBook @RishabPant777 #BharatArmy #TeamIndia #12thMan #WeveGotPant #COTI 🇮🇳👶🍼 pic.twitter.com/ZiXaPWqi6M— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) January 4, 2019
