Third Test: Pant, Gill look to invoke memories of Heist at the Gabba

Three years back, it was known as the ‘Heist at the Gabba’ and Rishabh Pant had played a key role behind it. Now on the verge of completing the most fairytale comeback in Indian cricket this year, the keeper-batter will look to play a key role as the visitors look to salvage their chances in the series in the third Test beginning on Saturday, 14 December.

The intervening years, coping with the near-fatal injury after the road accident has helped him mature as a performer on the big stage. Pant is no longer the talented youngster infamous for his rush of blood – but a regular No.5 in Tests and one of the heir apparents of senior pros like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to carry on the mantle of Indian batting.

However, he had not been quite at his best in the series so far, having scored just 87 runs from two matches. The pink ball Test in Adelaide saw Pant unleashing some audacious shots in the second innings as he came down the track against the seamers despite India losing wickets from the other end. However, after being all out for 180 in the first innings, they were playing catch-up and eventually lost the Test by 10 wickets.

Pant will certainly try to invoke memories of his famous counterattacking efforts of a 97 (off 118 balls) in Sydney, which helped India come close to chasing down 407 before settling down for a draw. However, Pant accomplished it in the very next Test in Brisbane as his unbeaten 89 and Shubman Gill’s 91 helped India register their highest run chase of 328 in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries. The victory was of historic significance as it ended Australia’s 32-year-long unbeaten streak at the Gabba and also helped India win their second series Down Under on the trot.

The series, which had Ajinkya Rahane as a stand-in captain (Virat Kohli had left after the first Test for his wife’s childbirth) and Ravi Shastri as coach, helped Pant’s stocks rise in world cricket like no other. His career stabilised post the Gabba heroics and since the 2020-21 tour of Australia, Pant has scored 1966 runs from 27 matches at an average of 44.68 and a strike rate of 77.61 since the last Australia tour.

‘’It felt very nostalgic when we came back here. The memories of 2021 are still very fresh,’’ said Gill, now a senior member in No.3 position. When asked about Australian skipper Pat Cummins hinting at employing short-ball strategies again, Gill shot back at the media conference: “They got one tail-ender and another lower middle-order batter out with short balls in Adelaide. I’m not sure what success he’s referring to.”

Ever since making a comeback to Test cricket after 21 months with a century against Bangladesh in Chennai, Pant followed it by knocks of 99, 60 and 64 against New Zealand. However, in the ongoing series, Pant has got starts but hasn’t been able to convert them into big scores.

Last time around, Pant had repeatedly given Nathan Lyon the charge – and could again be taking the experienced off-spinner on as the latter has failed to create an impact in the series. It’s time for the batter with the X-factor in the Indian line-up to fire if they return to the very place where they scripted history in 2021.

Australia, meanwhile, will be looking to drive home the psychological advantage they gained from their pink ball success – setting up another mouthwatering contest in the bargain.

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 India vs Australia

 Third Test at Gabba, Brisbane

 Match starts at 5.50 am (IST)