"India probably won't even be 100 today" - Sunil Gavaskar hails Rishabh Pant for sensational knock in 5th BGT 2024-25 Test

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar hailed Rishabh Pant for his breathtaking knock on Day 2 of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. After being criticized for his dismissal modes in both innings of the fourth Test at Melbourne, Pant responded in style.

The wicketkeeper-batter scored a defiant 97-ball 40 in the first innings, helping India to 185 on a challenging Sydney track. However, it was trademark Pant in the second innings as he smashed the Aussie bowlers for a brilliant 33-ball 61 with six boundaries and four maximums.

Gavaskar, who was visibly upset by Pant's dismissals in the Melbourne Test, was quick to praise the left-hander for his sparkling display on the second day in Sydney.

He told India Today in a conversation post the day's play:

"His knock of 61 is what got India to this total. So without that knock, I think India probably won't even be 100 today. I think it was a brilliant knock, which is something you'd expect from Rishabh Pant, given the way he plays. What I liked about the innings was that he was playing in front of the stumps. He's got the power, he's got the timing, and he can hit the ball a long distance."

Gavaskar added:

"It's when he is looking to play the premeditated shots, like the scoop or reverse scoop, that he can get into trouble because he doesn't have the same level of control over those as he does with shots in front of the wicket."

Despite promising in most of his previous innings, Pant never scored a half-century in the series until the Sydney outing.

He finishes the Australian Tests with 255 runs at an average of 28.33 in nine innings.

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Rishabh Pant's dazzling display leaves Sydney Test in the balance

Australia v India - Men's 5th Test Match: Day 2 - Source: Getty

Rishabh Pant's assault in the second innings has the Sydney Test delicately poised heading into the third day.

After scoring 185 in their first innings, India dismissed Australia for 181 on Day 2 to setup a near one-inning shootout. The visitors were in trouble once again at 59/3 before Pant's counter-attacking knock took them past the 100-run mark.

India eventually finished Day 2 on 141/6 with an overall lead of 145, leaving the match and series outcome in the balance.

A win for India will mean they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-2 series result. Meanwhile, an Australian victory will see them hoist the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014/15 with a 3-1 triumph.