How Rishabh Pant's Two Iconic Knocks Vs AUS Changed People's Perception About Him

Pant won the game in Gabba for India [X]

Rishabh Pant, the superstar of Indian cricket has not had an easy journey at the international level. From constant pressure of delivering the goods, to being compared with his predecessor, MS Dhoni, he has faced it all.

His lowest point came during the 2019 home summer, when the energetic keeper dropped a couple of simple catches, and missed stumping chances as he was jeered by the crowd, and at that stage, he wanted to quit the game.

However, it was the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series in Australia which changed people's perception about him and made him the new superstar.

India faced a humiliating defeat against Australia in the first Test at Adelaide. The team was all-out for a meagre 36 in the second innings as the home side inflicted a massive defeat. India did bounce back in the Boxing-Day Test at MCG, but the next two Test matches were the litmus test for the Indian side and Rishabh Pant.

The first of the many iconic knocks

The third Test match was scheduled in Sydney, and Australia set a target of 407 for India to conquer. A target in excess of 400 is never easy to chase, but the new-looked Indian team gave it a go and got decent starts from their top-3. However, it was the Pant special which gave immense believe that they can pull off the impossible.

He was aggressive, he was ruthless and he played a monumental knock of 97, and was dismissed three runs short of a remarkable ton. Though, the match was draw, but Pant garnered praise from across the globe.

Pant breaks Gabba ka Ghamand

Fast forward a couple of days later, and India faced Australia at the Gabba, known as the fortress for the Aussies. While many Indian cricketers have visited their and failed, a young Pant stood tall and created history for India.

Once again, India were given a stiff target to chase (328). Just like Sydney, the Indian top-order, all got a start, but to chase such a big total, the visitors needed to play with an extra gear, and it was provided by Pant. He rode his luck though, in the early going, but once the dust settled in, there was no looking back as just like Sydney, he again playd a blinder, but this time he made sure that the Indian team crossed the winning line.

The power-packed keeper remained unbeaten at 89 as India pulled off a heist and people realised, how special Pant really was. Since then, he has been India's number one choice keeper-batter in Tests.

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[Watch] When Rishabh Pant Hit Famous Winning Runs At Gabba To Breach Australia's Fortress

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