'Had Pujara not said anything, I would've completed my hundred' - Rishabh Pant on his 97 at SCG

After a stunning comeback in the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, India faced a stiff challenge in the third Test in Sydney on the final day. Chasing 407 to win, India lost their stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane early on the final day of the third Test, and the onus was on Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant to keep India safe. The duo stitched a 148-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with 97 of those runs coming from the bat of the wicketkeeper Pant.

Pant got the runs in relatively quick time with 12 fours and three sixes, while Pujara was grinding out the bowlers with his patience. It changed the momentum in India’s favour and it looked as if India would go for the victory rather than playing for a draw. However, the left-hander perished after a mind-blowing knock. just three runs short of a well-deserved century, while Pujara (77 off 205) followed him.

India managed to draw the Test with Hanuma Vihari (23*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (39*) together playing out almost 43 overs despite their injuries. The game will be etched in the memories for a long time, especially for the counter-attacking knock from Pant.

It would have been one of my best, if I reached 100 there: Rishabh Pant

Pant recalled what Pujara told him during the innings and noted that he was angry for getting into a double mind. He mentioned that Pujara wanted him to be patient and work in singles as he was nearing the century and added that it played a big part in getting his plans shattered.

“‘Rishabh…try to stick. You can work in singles, doubles too. You don’t have to hit a boundary’,” Pant recalled Pujara’s message in the docuseries ‘Bandon Mein Tha Dum’. “I got a little angry that they put me in this double-minded state. Because I like it when I’m very clear in my plans that this is what I want to do. We had built such a good momentum. In my mind the only thing at that time was ‘damn, what just happened?’ Because if I reached 100 there, it would have been one of my best.”

Meanwhile, Rahane also confirmed how Pant had reacted in the dressing room. “When he came in, he was disappointed and angry and he said, ‘Pujara bhai came and reminded me that I was on 97. I wasn’t even aware. Had he not said anything, I would have probably completed my hundred’,” Rahane said.