MATCH STORY
Follow UsAt the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari rescued India from certain defeat, allowing them to win the series in the following game in Brisbane.
They played nearly 43 overs on the final day to save the Test. Three years later, India's situation is completely different.
At a much spicier wicket at the SCG, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja got together when India were reduced to 57/3 at lunch. KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and, at the stroke of lunch, Shubman Gill were back in the pavilion.
The task in hand for India was to win the match, level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy - something they have not let go of since 2017. If you look at the way Pant and Jadeja batted, it wouldn't look as though they were looking to win the Test. Especially Pant, who is known not to allow the bowlers to settle down, was more circumspect than usual. He took plenty of blows to his body, and fought it out for his side and dug them out of a precarious position.
He did the same in Melbourne when India were looking to save the Test. But then again, one rash shot is all it took to bring curtains to a promising innings. It was a terrible scoop that brought his downfall in the first innings there, and in the second, it was an unnecessary hoick towards long-on that brought his end. It could have been avoided on both counts, but the new-gen superstars put that down to their natural game.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
When it comes off, it looks eye-catching, but when it does not, you will always be prone to criticism.
But as he did in Melbourne, Sydney, too, saw a similar tame end. This time, it was a tame half-hearted shot from Pant, who just scooped it to the man at mid-wicket for a patient 40. And with that, began the collapse, like MCG.
Once again, on the lines of MCG, Pant had done the hard work, and like MCG, he threw it away again. Pant was certainly NOT playing his natural game this time. He was more watchful than he had ever been.
The track in Sydney was not as flat as it was in Melbourne, and as a result, he had a false shot % of 26.5 in this game. But the point of contention for many experts is the fact that the southpaw throws it away once he gets his eye in.
He has been a match-winner in the past with his flashy strokeplay, and if he wants to return to his old ways, he needs to consider the conditions and situation of the match.
With the backing Pant has received over the last few years, it would be bullish for the wicketkeeper-batter to take it for granted. Recent events have shown that even the captain's place is not assured in the team.
