AUS v IND 2020-21: ‘We had the game in our grasp’, Rishabh Pant rues getting out on 97 in Sydney Test

Pant played a key role in India’s recent 2-1 Test series win Down Under.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant played a key role in India’s recent 2-1 Test series win in Australia, scoring 259 runs at an impressive average of 51.80, including two half-centuries.

His 97 in the third Test in Sydney nearly helped India win the match before it ended as a draw while the southpaw smashed 89 not out to take the visitors over the line in the final Test at the Gabba while chasing 328 in the fourth innings.

See Also: India may discard specialist wicket-keeper plan after Rishabh Pant's heroics in Australia

Reflecting on his performance in the tour Down Under, Pant on Monday (February 1) said although he was disappointed at missing out on a century in the third Test at SCG, the bigger disappointment was to miss out on the opportunity of winning the match for his country.

"I was feeling bad not because of missing a century, but because I was thinking about the match. We had the game in our grasp. Pujji bhai (Cheteshwar Pujara) and I were playing, and winning the match would have been different. That was more heart-breaking for me than missing a hundred," Pant told 'The Week' magazine in an interview.

While chasing 407 in the fourth innings in Sydney, Team India had 8 wickets in hand when they came out to bat on Day 5. Despite losing skipper Ajinkya Rahane early, the visitors continued their fight as the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205 balls) Pant (97 off 118 balls) shared a 148-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Although India lost both of them in the second session, Hanuma Vihari (23* off 161 balls) and R Ashwin (39* off 128 balls) showed immense grit and determination to deny Australia a likely victory. The pair lasted 258 balls before both sides decided to shake hands with the tourists scoring 334/5 from 131 overs in the second essay.

Rishabh Pant may have faltered in Sydney but he stayed till the end to take India home in the series-decider at the Gabba.

"The plan was to play normal cricket, to let the game unfold and then see what happens. I was not thinking too much about winning, but it was there at the back of my mind. I did not try to do too many different things, and gave myself time to stay at the crease," he remarked.