Rishabh Pant came out to bat at No. 5 for India in their second innings during the ongoing fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. As soon as he faced his first ball from Scott Boland, the 27-year-old left-handed batter wasted no time and launched it for a massive six down the ground. The video of Pant’s first-ball six quickly went viral, with cricket fans celebrating his bold approach.
This six off Boland was notable for several reasons. It became the seventh instance of an Indian batter hitting a six off the very first ball of their innings in Test cricket. Even more impressive, it was only the second time this feat occurred in an away Test match.
WATCH – Scott Boland’s Unplayable Delivery Sends Yashasvi Jaiswal Back In Fifth Test
Pant, who had scored a cautious 40 runs from 98 balls in India’s first innings, has not fully lived up to the high expectations set for him in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, in what could be his last innings of the tour, Pant would be eager to make a statement and help India set a challenging target for Australia in the fourth innings of the match.
Aate hi RISHABH-PANTI shuru! 🔥
When @RishabhPant17 steps in, the entertainment level goes 𝗨𝗽&𝗨𝗽 📈#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 5th Test, Day 2 | LIVE NOW! | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/tiJiuBOEDO
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 4, 2025
Scott Boland to Rishabh Pant, SIX! Oh hello, no sighters needed for Pant. Fuller and outside off, nips in. Rishabh Pant dances down the track and muscles it down the ground over the long on fence for a biggie. #AUSvIND #INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/WitnOfW1lh
— 78 Crickets (@78Crickets) January 4, 2025
Pant came in after Virat Kohli’s dismissal, where the latter was caught out for just six runs on the first ball of the 14th over in India’s second innings. Kohli’s dismissal was his eighth in the series, with the right-handed batter again playing an outside shot to a delivery outside off stump, an issue that had plagued him throughout the series.
WATCH – Yashasvi Jaiswal Smashes Back-to-back Boundaries In First Over Against Mitchell Starc
Virat Kohli, who led India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, has struggled in the 2024-25 edition, managing only 190 runs across five matches.
The Scott Boland show is delivering at the SCG!
He’s got Virat Kohli now. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/12xG5IWL2j
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2025
