A famous win for India in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia was one to remember for wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, as he equalled the world record for most catches in a single Test.
The 21-year-old cut a very active figure behind the stumps with 11 successful takes at Adelaide, but his activity wasn’t limited to pouching edges of the Australian batsmen.
Pant was a constant presence in the ears of Australia’s lineup, having something to say for large periods of the 218.3 overs batted by the hosts over the two innings.
It reached fever pitch on the final day, with India closing on a win even as the Australian tail dug in resolutely to try and alter the outcome; so much so, that the broadcasters decided to let Pant do the talking – literally – for an entire over, the 76th of the Australian innings, with R Ashwin bowling to Pat Cummins.
Pant’s antics, to some, was the highlight of an absorbing opener to the four-Test series between two steep rivals.
Not everyone was impressed, though. Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar, a pundit with Sony for the India telecast of the match, wasn’t pleased with the young keeper’s verbal patterns.
‘Say anything you want to your teammates, not to the opposition,’ said an angry-sounding Gavaskar when asked to comment upon Pant’s chirpiness.
Some Twitter users were quick to spot how Pant’s ‘banter’, inadvertently, took the mickey out of his own teammates too in some cases.
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