India tour of Australia: India vs Australia fifth Test in Sydney Border Gavaskar Trophy on January 3, 2025. Rishabh Pant press conference’

Rishabh Pant reacts while batting on day 1 of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney on January 3, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Having dealt with a gruesome car accident, a red cherry hurtling into his body is perhaps the least of Rishabh Pant’s worries. He battled hard against the Australian attack and was India’s top-scorer with a 40 in the fifth Test that began at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday (January 3, 2025).

Struck eight times on his torso, Pant competed hard and was one of the bright spots in a dreary Indian first innings. Reacting to the tough outing, he said: “Definitely it’s painful but sometimes you have to do the hard work for the team and that’s okay. I was not thinking about where I got hit but just played the ball to the best of my abilities.” Later he added: “I think this is the first time I have been hit so much.”

Being in proximity when Jasprit Bumrah and Sam Konstas exchanged words, Pant explained: “They wanted to waste some time. I feel that’s the reason. He had a conversation with Jassi (Bumrah). He said something. I didn’t hear. He wanted to waste some time so we don’t bowl one more over.”

Queried about his pitch-impressions, Pant replied: “It was a little bit tough pitch. The ball was doing off the wicket quite a bit. I wouldn’t say 185 is a par-score. But I think anything over 220-250 would be a par-score, but still a very competitive score because the way the ball is moving, there is a lot of help for the bowlers.”

And on the Washington Sundar dismissal, Pant said: “I feel whatever decision we make on the field, it has to stay with the on-field umpire. Until and unless it’s (evidence) so conclusive to change the decision, I think we should stay with the on-field umpire. Technology can be a little better I guess.”

Touch of emotion, says Pant

Rishabh Pant admitted to a touch of emotion within the ranks when news about Rohit Sharma missing the fifth Test spread. “He is our captain and obviously there will be some emotion. As for the decision, it was a management call so I was not part of that conversation so I can’t explain anything other than that,” Pant told the media here on Friday.

Asked for his inputs on Jasprit Bumrah as captain, Pant said: “Mostly his message is be positive all the time and don’t think about what has already happened, just give your best on the field. That’s what you want from your captain.”