Rishabh Pant smashed a blistering century to close out play on the second day of India’s pink-ball warm-up game against Australia A.
His sensational late flourish took the visitors to 386/4 with an overall lead by 472 runs on Saturday. Hanuma Vihari made a fine 104 off 194 balls while young Shubman Gill scored 65 off 78 balls on a day dominated by India.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was batting on 81 off 67 ball as the match entered the final over of the day and needed 19 runs to get to the three-figure mark. He ended up getting 22 off it as he clobbered Jack Wildermuth for 4, 4, 6, 4, 4 off the final five balls to remain unbeaten on 103. His ton came off just 73 balls including nine fours and six sixes.
Watch: Rishabh Pant smashes 73-ball century during warm-up match – with 22 runs off the last over
Pant came into his own in the final session of the day, smashing the Australia A bowlers to all corners of the Sydney Cricket Ground and making a strong case for himself to be picked as wicketkeeper in the first Test at Adelaide ahead of Wriddhiman Saha.
Pant, who wasn’t in the best of form during the IPL, was a man transformed and received a lot of praise on Twitter:
Rishabh Pant making the Australian fielders work hard late in the night at SCG. 😅😅😅
— The Field (@thefield_in) December 12, 2020
🎥 Cricket Australia pic.twitter.com/bN5oW4l2qs
UNBELIEVABLE! Pant hits 22 runs off the final over to bring up his 100! #AUSAvIND pic.twitter.com/RByRy0kedO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 12, 2020
💯
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2020
A cracking first-class century from @RishabhPant17 in just 73 balls at the SCG. He smashes 22 off the final over to bring up his 100.
9x4 6x6. BOOM. pic.twitter.com/Mg3M1WBYlg
The legend of Rishabh Pant continues to grow in Australia. Smashes 22 runs off the last 5 balls (4, 4, 6, 4, 4 to go from 81 to 103) of the day to bring up a rather remarkable century. “Only Gilchrist could have done that,” say those who stayed back at the @scg #AUSvIND #AusAvIND pic.twitter.com/tyOZiwqKPX
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 12, 2020
73-ball ton for Rishabh Pant. Should Pant play ahead of Saha in the Adelaide Test? Pant has a Test ton at SCG in 2018-19. Saha is a world class ‘keeper & a good batsman. Interesting selection dilemma to have. Good ton from Vihari too. Gill played well in both the innings too
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 12, 2020
Not picked in ODI series.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 12, 2020
Not picked in T20 series.
Failed in first innings.
Brings up hundred from just 73 balls in the second innings, Pant is freak. pic.twitter.com/SXikQKmHNG
PANT PANT PANT - so happy for you @RishabhPant17 you deserve to be in the 11
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) December 12, 2020
100 for @RishabhPant17 and the debate will start again. This is what you love about the build up to a high intensity test series.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) December 12, 2020
I don't know if Pant's hitting makes any difference to his selection, but it at least shows his teammates how to play a bowler who bowls 2 long hops or full tosses an over on an average. #AUSAvIND #AUSvIND
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) December 12, 2020
Rishabh pant showed how special a player he is when in flow.. he was 81 with 5 balls to stumps. Then
— Thana (@Pitstop387) December 12, 2020
4,4,6,4,4
Hits his century 103 off 73 with 9 fours & 6 sixes.. #AusAvInd pic.twitter.com/cA7RaxpdQ3
He is just 23! and achieved such thing which many players haven't achieved in lifetime.
— Andy. (@WeBleedBlue007) December 12, 2020
There is a reason for all the hype and fandom. He is genuinely, INCREDIBLY talented player.
Need a fiery Pant performance in next two test series which would make the team management pick him for the ODI and T20 series against England..
— SMM (@Shhy10) December 12, 2020
Yaar imagine if Pant plays like this consistently in all formats. The top order can give starts and Pant and Pandya can then finish games with their brutal hitting ability. 🔥
— Jay (@bhavsarJ2_0) December 12, 2020
Cricket Twitter when Pant performs : pic.twitter.com/ekRuf3ykgl
— . (@Cric_edits2) December 12, 2020
