Former India head coach Rahul Dravid hailed the magnificent unbeaten 89 of Rishabh Pant against Australia at the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, terming the wicketkeeper-batsman to have “taken to Test cricket like a duck to water.” Pant’s fierce innings had been the center of an exciting three-wicket victory for India that sealed not only the match but also ended Australia’s unbeaten streak of 32 years at the Gabba, handing India a well-deserved 2-1 victory in the series.
Dravid, though, highlighted the importance of Pant, especially considering the pressure of the occasion. “Rishabh’s was an incredible performance. To watch him chase down 89 to win that Test match at the Gabba, with everything on the line and a depleted side, was truly sensational,” Dravid said in an interview with Star Sports.
And then, there is his record against Australia-662 runs in eight Tests at an average of 55.16, inclusive of two fifties and a century. Pant’s contributions in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours helped India win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on both occasions, and he has thus come to be regarded as a player who can win matches.
“What a special cricketer he’s been. He’s just embraced Test cricket phenomenally. After Dhoni’s departure, there was concern about finding a suitable replacement. While he hasn’t replaced Dhoni, his performances in Test cricket have been absolutely sensational,” Dravid added.
Reflecting on his career, Dravid, a batsman of enormous repute, acknowledged the enduring popularity of his double hundred in the 2003 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide, despite India’s struggle to win series in Australia during his time. During that Test, after Australia posted 556 runs, Dravid had stitched a very important 303-run partnership with VVS Laxman and notched up a marathon innings of 233 runs.
“I’m grateful for it, but I wouldn’t have voted for myself. The recent performances of India in Australia, especially winning series there, speak volumes. While my contributions were significant, recent teams have achieved remarkable success,” Dravid said.
He also spoke about the partnership with Laxman, who came in when the scoreboard read 85 for 4. “I felt responsible for the run-out of Saurav (Ganguly) and knew I had to make it count. The goal was to build a partnership and get close to the target. Laxman and I had formed big partnerships before, which helped us navigate through tough situations,” he explained.
As the partnership blossomed, the runs flowed more easily and were assisted by some comfortable batting conditions. “I always enjoy batting with Laxman; he’s a beautiful player to watch and plays a very complementary role to mine,” Dravid said.
