As India heads into the final day of the third Test at Lord’s requiring 135 more runs with six wickets in hand, one man is the key to reversing the script, that is none other than Rishabh Pant. The left-handed batter, who has become famous for his fearless stroke-play and coolness under pressure, is again ready to be the center of attention in a nail-biting run chase on one of cricket’s biggest stages.
Rishabh Pant’s Gabba Brilliance
Pant has no unfamiliarity with such moments. His name is remembered in contemporary Test history for creating match-winning knocks when the situation was gravely against India. None more famous than the one he played at the Gabba in January 2021, where he hit an unbeaten 89 to lead India to a record-breaking victory against Australia.
THE DAY INDIA CONQUERED GABBA…!!!! 🇮🇳
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 18, 2024
India became the first team to beat Australia at Gabba after 32 years in Tests "OTD in 2021" – A young side with all injury issues created history with heroic performance by Rishabh Pant. 🫡pic.twitter.com/WgqVRHVNi5
That win not only claimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also broke Australia’s 32-year unblemished record at the venue. It was a chase that no one believed in, accomplished by a mix of determination, panache, and sheer belief in oneself qualities that Pant has made his own signature.
Jump forward to Lord’s, and the situation isn’t much different. India is in a difficult place, and the conditions aren’t all that hospitable. England’s pace bowling headed by the likes of Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Chris Woakes will be tough to handle on the last morning, with the new ball in sight and the pitch holding just enough to interest bowlers.
But Pant can alter the tempo of a Test match. He doesn’t merely survive pressure rather, he counter-punches. His presence in the crease puts bowlers on the back foot, extends field settings, and creates opportunities to score where there were none to be found.
Also Read: ENG Vs IND: Mohammed Siraj Fined 15% Of Match Fees, Gets One Demerit Point – Here’s Why!
It’s not purely power-hitting. In the last couple of years, Pant has become a batsman who knows when to switch gears and when to take the pressure. That balance was evident in his iconic innings in the Gabba, and then in his innings at The Oval and Edgbaston. England is well aware of what Pant is capable of once he gets going. His unpredictability whether a stroll down the track towards a fast bowler or an unexpected reverse sweep causes mayhem, and with it, the possibilities to dominate the game.
Most importantly, Pant also understands how to use the lower order. Be it Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, or even the tail, Pant has consistently converted difficult phases of the game into winning stands. At Lord’s too, he might once again be required to do that job, taking India to the finish line with serene urgency.
What England’s Batting Coach Said
And yet England is still upbeat assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has already indicated they can grab six wickets in the first hour, the psychological boost Pant provides is not easily dismissed. He’s done it before. He knows the requirements. And the opposition does too.
As Day 5 dawns at Lord’s, India’s destiny in the third Test could be in the hands of Rishabh Pant. If he shows the same poise and panache that won India the Gabba Test, a historic victory in the heart of London can quite conceivably be scripted into cricket history by lunch on Day 5.
