Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Rishabh Pant Falls to Australian Tactics, Starc-Cummins Pair Defeated Mighty Pant
Rishabh Pant, despite a promising start in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide, fell victim to a meticulously planned strategy by Australia. After being unsettled by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, a lapse in concentration led to his dismissal at a crucial moment, leaving India vulnerable.
In a tense second Test at the Adelaide Oval, Rishabh Pant showed glimpses of his trademark resilience but couldn’t convert his start into a substantial innings, falling to Australia’s strategic brilliance. The keeper-batter looked composed at the crease even as India struggled to stabilize after losing wickets in quick succession.
Pant’s brief innings, marked by confident strokes, seemed to suggest he might once again rescue his team. However, his dismissal was the result of a calculated ploy by the Australians. The drama unfolded when Mitchell Starc’s throw struck Pant during a quick single called by Nitish Kumar Reddy. The incident momentarily unsettled the batter, setting the stage for Pat Cummins’ decisive intervention.
Watch the video here:
Starc hit Pant with the ball , so that Cummins could get him out in the next ball pic.twitter.com/VsLoaHVkoY
— Aditya (@aditya5727) December 6, 2024
This incident destabilized him as in the very next over, Cummins delivered a 143.5 kph bouncer that reared off a back-of-length spot, catching Pant off-guard. Attempting to fend off the delivery, Pant was beaten by the ball’s extra bounce, resulting in a top edge that ballooned into the hands of Marnus Labuschagne at wide gully.
Pant’s dismissal, just when he looked set to stabilize India’s innings, proved pivotal as Australia maintained their dominance. His lapse in focus highlighted how crucial mental resilience is in high-pressure games against tactically sharp opponents like Australia.
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