Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins has issued a warning to Rishabh Pant ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, when Australia will face India in a five-match Test series.
Cummins recently spoke about the new trend of aggressive batting in Test cricket instead of taking time and scoring big runs. India have Rishabh Pant in their squad who is an expert at doing this and will be tough for Australia.
Pant announced his return to Test cricket with a magnificent hundred in the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai. The wicketkeeper-batsman was the ultimate destroyer and smashed his sixth Test century.
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Pat Cummins warns Rishabh Pant ahead of BGT 2024-25
Speaking to Star Sports, Pat Cummins was asked if the aggressive way is the new way forward in Tests. He was asked about Rishabh Pant’s batting style and how it might affect a particular match.
Cummins replied that every team has players like that and named Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh in the Australian squad who bat in attack mode no matter the situation.
“Look, I think every team has one or two players that can carry the game. We have Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. I think with those guys, you know they’re going to be aggressive. They miss your zone a little bit, but they’re going to carry the game,” he said. Cummins.
Aggressive progress in Test cricket? 🤔
See what the Aussie captain is up to @patcummins30 has to say about @RishabhPant17 and the effect in the game! 🙌🏻
We can’t wait to witness it #Toughest Competition Starting FRI 22 NOV! 🏆#AUSvINDOnStar #cricket pic.twitter.com/43lCzDk9MZ
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 23, 2024
“We’ll try to calm him down” – Pat Cummins on Rishabh Pant
Talking about Rishabh Pant’s style, Cummins replied that it is his natural way of batting, but Australia are more used to it now as these shots are common in today’s world of cricket. He also said that Australia will try to silence Pant in the upcoming series.
“Someone like Rishabh (Pants) can bowl the reverse cycle and it’s an incredible shot. It’s just part of who he is. I think we’re a little bit more used to it now that some of those funny shots are a bit more common, Cummins noted.
“He is someone who has had a big impact on several series. We will try to keep him quiet,” the fast bowler added.
India won the last two Test series they played in Australia and Rishabh Pant was instrumental in winning both the series. In 2018-19, Pant scored 350 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 58.33 with a best of 159* and became the second highest run-getter in the series.
In 2020-21, Rishabh Pant scored 274 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 68.50, emerging as the third highest run-getter in the series behind Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. The series also included Pant’s famous knock at the Gabba where he scored 89* and remained unbeaten till the end to lead India to a memorable victory over Australia.
