Rishabh Pant Stakes Test Claim With Whirlwind 73-Ball Century

Rishabh Pant, on Saturday, scored a whirlwind century to push his case for a place in the playing eleven for the upcoming first Test between India and Australia. The wicketkeeper-batsman showed glimpses of his usual self as he took the Australian bowlers to the cleaners on day two of the ongoing three-day tour game against Australia A.

It was a typical Rishabh Pant knock as the out-of-form youngster finally showed the form that had made the cricketing fraternity call him legendary MS Dhoni’s successor. Rishabh Pant’s place in the team for the Adelaide Test was looking doubtful after he was benched for the first tour game and Wriddhiman Saha got the nod.

He was included in the playing eleven for the ongoing game but the team-management made it clear that Saha was ahead of him in the race by naming him in the team too. Things went from bad to worse for Rishabh Pant as he was out for just 5 in the first innings.

However, the highly-rated wicketkeeper-batsman roared back to form on Saturday with a breathtaking hundred. He scored a 73-ball hundred to push his case for the Adelaide Test. His stunning knock was studded with 9 fours and 6 sixes. Rishabh Pant was on 81 when the final over of the day began.

The first ball from Jack Wildermuth did not yield any run before the Delhi star turned on the heat. He hit the next five deliveries for four boundaries and a six to complete his century. Given Rishabh Pant’s overseas record, it would not be surprising if he gets the nod now ahead of Saha for the first Test.

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A cracking first-class century from @RishabhPant17 in just 73 balls at the SCG. He smashes 22 off the final over to bring up his 100.

9×4 6×6. BOOM. pic.twitter.com/Mg3M1WBYlg

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2020

Along with Pant, Hanuma Vihari scored a century too as he was unbeaten on 104 when the stumps were called. India were comfortably placed on 386 for 4 with their overall lead extended to 472 at the end of day two. Earlier in the day, Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill scored impressive fifties too.

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