'We have to try and keep him quiet' - Pat Cummins wants to keep Rishabh Pant in check during BGT 2024-25
"Every team has one or two of those players who take the game on. Australia have Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh," Pat Cummins said.
Pat Cummins understands the importance of neutralizing Rishabh Pant in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which gets underway in November. The wicketkeeper-batter made his comeback to Test cricket memorable as he scored a swashbuckling century in the second innings of India's first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai last week.
The Australian skipper noted that Pant can take the game away from the opposition. He mentioned that the Australian team must be wary of the 26-year-old's antics during the much-awaited series.
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"Every team has one or two of those players who take the game on. Australia have Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. I think those guys, you know that they are going to be aggressive, take the game on. Like Rishabh Pant might play a reverse slap and it is an incredible shot and that's just part of who he is," Cummins said on Star Sports.
"He's someone that has a big influence in a couple of series and we have go to try and keep him quiet," he further added.
Can Pant repeat 2022/23 heroics in Australia?
India emerged victorious on their last two Test tours to Australia. Their last visit was in 2020/21, where the Asian giants won by a 2-1 margin in the four-match series. Pant emerged as the third-highest run-getter with 274 runs from five innings at an average of 68.50 and a strike rate of 69.89. He scored an unbeaten 89 in the fourth Test at Gabba to help India keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in their possession.
Also Read: 'It's very unacceptable' - Dinesh Karthik quashes Rishabh Pant's comparison with MS Dhoni
Pant has a stunning record in Australia's Test matches. In 12 innings, he has amassed 624 runs at an average of 62.40 and a strike rate of 72.13. Indian fans will be elated that he got his century as the youngster had been struggling with the bat since his comeback from multiple injuries suffered during a car accident in December 2022. He will look to go from strength as India play one more Test against Bangladesh and three more versus New Zealand. If he gets runs in the next four matches, it will stand him in strong stead for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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