In 2019, Rishabh Pant enjoyed the peak of his success in Sydney when he smashed 159, which is the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper batsman in an overseas Test. However, two years later, at the same venue, Rishabh Pant found out that cricket is the ultimate leveller. On day 1 of the Sydney Test between India and Australia, Rishabh Pant was guilty of dropping two catches in three overs. Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj were the unlucky bowlers and the batsman to benefit most from these opportunities was young debutant Will Pucovski.
The first incident occurred in the 22nd over of the match which was bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin. The bowler bowled a straight ball and Will Pucovski played for the turn. The edge was taken but Rishabh Pant failed to hold on to the catch. The second dropped catch was slightly controversial. In the last ball of the 25th over bowled by Mohammed Siraj, Pucovski got a glove to a short ball and it lobbed behind Rishabh Pant. The keeper ran back, dived and grabbed the ball. However, it popped off and on the second attempt, Pant appeared to have taken the catch. However, in the process, the ball already had hit the ground and Pucovski got another lifeline.
Australia make solid progress
Marnus Labuschagne and Will Pucovski made good progress on day 1 after the early loss of David Warner to Mohammed Siraj. On the best batting strip provided so far, Australia made good progress with both batsmen stitching a stand in excess of fifty. Pucovski neared a fifty on debut while Labuschagne was looking confident and not sluggish unlike the knocks in Melbourne and Adelaide.
The four-match series is currently level 1-1 after India defied the odds and won the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne for the second time. Australia had won the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide by bowling India out for a miserable 36, the lowest Team India has ever been bowled out in their 88-year Test history. India have not won in Sydney since 1978 when they defeated a weak Australia side by an innings.
