Australian captain Pat Cummins has cautioned his team about the dangerous form of Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Pant, who has made a remarkable comeback following a serious accident, has been in stellar form, delivering standout performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 and the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh, where he recently hit a century.
India is set to tour Australia for a five-match Test series as part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, and Pant’s aggressive play is expected to be a significant challenge for the Australian bowling unit.
Pant, a crucial member of the Indian squad, gained prominence during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21 with several match-winning knocks. His latest impressive performance came in the first Test against Bangladesh, where he scored a commanding 109 runs, leading India to a 280-run victory.
Speaking about Pant’s influence, Cummins compared his attacking style to that of Australian players Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, urging his bowlers to stay sharp.
‘Someone like Rishabh Pant might play a reverse lap’ – Pat Cummins
“Look, I think every team has one or two of those players who can take the game on. We have Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. I think with those guys, you know they’re going to be aggressive. You miss your area a little bit and they can take the game on,” Cummins stated.
He added that Pant’s unpredictable shots, like the reverse lap, make him a dangerous player who can change the course of the match.
“Someone like Rishabh Pant might play a reverse lap, and it’s an incredible shot. He’s had a big influence on a couple of series. Got to try to keep him quiet,” Cummins concluded.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins in Perth on November 22.
