Watch: Rishabh Pant Smokes Nathan Lyon For A Disdainful Six Over Deep Midwicket

Rishabh Pant vs Nathan Lyon was once again one of the intriguing battles that took place on the final day of the fourth Test. With India having blazed away in the afternoon session thanks to the onslaught by opener Shubman Gill and aggressive batting by skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant was promoted ahead of Mayank Agarwal in order to continue with the momentum.

Pant, as was the case in Sydney, was cautious initially against the Australian bowlers including Nathan Lyon as he ensured that India did not lose any more wickets in the afternoon session.  After the Tea break, the battle between the southpaw and Nathan Lyon ensued with Tim Paine bringing the field up, inviting the swashbuckler to take the off-spinner downtown.

Paine and Lyon nearly succeeded in their plans as Pant danced down the track without getting to the pitch of the ball but he was beaten by the turn and bounce. However, Tim Paine failed to collect the ball missing the chance to stump the southpaw.

Pant survived and then to rub further salt in Nathan Lyon’s wounds, he proceeded to dance down the track once again in the 71st over but this time, he did not miss out, smoking the off-spinner deep into the deep-midwicket stand.

Many rows back 6️⃣

Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/qvYTMSiZsl pic.twitter.com/GixI6l565t

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021

Pant and Pujara, who scored a defiant half-century, added a valuable 61 runs for the fourth wicket as India chipped away at the target. However, Australia struck back immediately after taking the new ball as Pat Cummins pinned the Indian No.3 LBW.

However, Pant has since then taken the charge, driving the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood with disdain. At the time of writing, Rishabh Pant was batting on 50 with India needing a further 75 runs in the remaining 16 overs.