Pant’s rapid 66 helped India set a daunting target of 372 runs in Galle Test.
Rishabh Pant spearheaded India's second innings with an aggressive 66 off 69 balls, powering the visitors to a total of 193 and setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 372 runs to win the first Test in Galle.
During his counter-attacking knock, the wicketkeeper-batter smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes, scripting history by becoming the first Indian and the fastest player globally to hit 100 Test sixes. He reached the milestone in just 89 innings and from only 4,918 deliveries, shattering the previous records held by Australian legend Adam Gilchrist (137 innings and 6,578 balls).
Pant entered the second innings with 98 career Test sixes. He brought up his half-century and his 100th Test maximum simultaneously by shuffling across his crease and flat-whipping a length delivery from seamer Lahiru Kumara over the fine-leg boundary.
As a result, the southpaw joined an exclusive club of only four players in Test history to clear the fence 100 times. Before him, Ben Stokes (138), Brendon McCullum (107), and Adam Gilchrist (100) had achieved this feat.
After his recent record-breaking knock, Pant drew rich praise from the former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra, who hailed the left-hander as the greatest wicketkeeper-batter in Indian Test history.
"It was once again a reminder that there hasn't been a better keeper-batter in Indian Test cricket history. He consistently scores runs, is efficient behind the wickets, drives the team, and keeps them awake with his non-stop commentary from behind, and he is the X-factor. Very few people force you to romance Test cricket. He is that guy," Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
In the first innings at Galle, Rishabh Pant’s basic cricketing sense was questioned by the critics after he threw his wicket away for 39 off 62 balls.
Chopra highlighted how Pant can frustrate commentators and fans with risky shots, yet completely win them over moments later with his match-winning brilliance.
"Rishabh Pant's story has been very interesting. He evokes emotion. He is a player like that. When you see him playing, either you like him, or you actually hate him. Sometimes when you like him also, you still feel a particular thing has gone wrong," Chopra stated.
"Then that 'Stupid, stupid, stupid' statement also comes, and then when he bats like this, the same commentator - I am talking about the great Sunil Gavaskar - says how well he bats. He will make your emotions oscillate like a car wiper. It means that if Rishabh is playing, entertainment is guaranteed," he added.
Aakash Chopra also noted that unlike other batters who struggle when pitches seam or spin, Pant plays his aggressive game without changing his character, making him uniquely suited for difficult Test match situations.
"When the circumstances become slightly tough, that brings the best out of him. Everyone has a particular way of playing. Generally, when things change, especially when the pitch starts doing a little more, seam or spin, something different is demanded of you," Chopra remarked.
"You cannot play normally. In doing so, everyone goes away from their character and fails many times. Rishabh Pant's character is ideal for these circumstances. Whether it's the first or fourth innings, the pitch is seaming or friendly, it doesn't matter to him. He plays like this only. He plays an extremely high-risk game," he concluded.