Pant Shows Restraint on a Challenging Pitch as India Struggle in Sydney
Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive strokeplay, displayed remarkable restraint on a challenging Sydney pitch, top-scoring with a patient 40. He faced 98 deliveries, prioritizing survival over flashy shots in response to the challenging conditions and the team's precarious position.
Pant acknowledged the need to adapt his approach, stating, "I was not in a frame of mind where I wanted to take charge... the wicket was doing too much." He emphasized the importance of playing sensible cricket and adapting to the demands of the pitch.
Despite a painful blow to the hand from Mitchell Starc, Pant remained focused and continued to contribute. He credited Australia's disciplined bowling attack, particularly Scott Boland, for making runs difficult to come by.
India's total of around 180 was considered below par, but Pant acknowledged that anything above 220-250 would have been a competitive score on a challenging wicket.
The day ended with a heated exchange between Sam Konstas and Jasprit Bumrah, likely stemming from an attempt by the Australian fielders to waste time. Pant, while not directly involved, felt the incident was an attempt to prevent India from bowling an extra over.
