Cricket News: Rishabh Pant single-handedly took India to win three times

His career has seen a meteoric rise to establish himself as an integral part of India's batting line-up. His capabilities have allowed the Indian team to field with five bowlers without jeopardising the batting order. So, here's a trip down to three innings that mesmerised the cricket fraternity and fans, where he single-handedly took the team to crucial wins.

2022 England vs India 3rd ODI (125* off 113)

"Hopefully, I'll remember for the rest of my life," said Rishabh Pant at the post-match conference. Indeed, he will remember an inning forever, and we on the outside will never forget. Taking over the innings when India struggled at 72/4, Rishabh Pant's maiden ODI century rescued India after top-order failure and helped the visitors clinch the series win clinically. His knock was well-supported by Hardik Pandya as the duo stitched 133 runs partnership. His unbeaten 125 against England's target of 260 received praise from the cricket fraternity across the globe. 

"Last match of a series and @RishabhPant17 playing brilliantly – this is a better love story than twilight. Incredible innings from an incredible player – with great support from Hardik and Jadeja. #IndvsEng," tweeted Sehwag.

2021 India vs England 4th Test (101 off 118)

The day when Pant played his famous reverse sweep against James Anderson, leaving the legend itself smiling.

"Shot Of 2021.....that reverse sweep vs James Anderson with the second new ball. Audacious. Adventurous. Rishabh Pant is an absolute freak. Love his play to bits. #IndvEng" tweeted Akash Chopra.

Scoring his maiden test century, Rishabh Pant displayed a psychoactive substance of work in the match. Failing to reach his ton multiple times after touching a 90-plus score in Australia, this ton helped Pant get the much-awaited landmark. India, with a lead of 2-1 in a four-match test series when England toured India, the visitors looked to tie the series in Ahmedabad. 

England posted 205 in the first innings, batting first, and took big wickets, putting India on the backfoot. Taking the inning from India struggling at 80/4, the batter helped India grab a lead of 160 runs with his maiden ton of 101 runs. His information helped India seal the series win by an innings and 25 runs. The batter emerged the star of the match, rescuing team India again by playing a crucial knock and taking the team to a lead single-handedly. 

2020 Australia vs India 4th Test (89* off 138)

This tour and match can be the wicket-keeper batter's most memorable knock in the Test matches. After completing three tests, India and Australia were leveled at 1-1 in the series, which depended on the 4th Test at The Gabba. Australia, having won all the matches since 1988 at the venue, walked in confident while India looked struggling in the absence of Virat Kohli. With a target of 328 to cover, Shubman Gill (91) and Cheteshwar Pujara (56) played notable knocks at the top. Rishabh Pant taking to the crease with India at 167, scored unbeaten 89 runs on the final day to seal the series win. On winning Player of the match, the batter brought his name to the limelight. 

Indian commentator Akash Chopra said, "Rishabh Pant is India's best ever wicket-keeper batter in 'Tests'…and he's not even 25 yet. The number of Test match-defining innings he's played in just 30 matches is simply sensational. #ENGvIND."

Earlier in the year, he became the only wicketkeeper-batter after legend Adam Gilchrist to win the Player of the Series award in Test history. Rishabh Pant has already topped the charts for most dismissals in a series (39), most catches in a match (11), and most runs in a series by a wicket-keeper (720) in Test cricket. The Player who never could have been accepted to fill in the shoes of MS Dhoni now seems to be performing exceptionally well.

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