Perfect storm in Sydney raises India's hopes

EX-INDIA BATTER

- Ashish Magotra

SYDNEY: Right until Rishabh Pant walked out to bat on Saturday, wickets had been the order of the day in the Sydney Test. Australia had lost nine wickets on Day 2 of the final Test and India were tottering at 59/3 in the second innings. Batting was difficult, the grassy wicket was spicy and the tall Aussie pacers were relentless.

The previous day, in similar conditions, the left-hander ground out an out-of-character 98-ball 40: "I was not in a frame of mind to take charge of the game", he later said. But now, with a match and series on the line, he reverted to his fearless norm and went after the bowling in a free-spirited manner that perhaps, in the situation, only he could have mustered.

At stumps, India were 141/6 thanks to Pant's top-score of a 33-ball 61. The next highest score was opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's breezy 22 (35 b, 4x4).