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Rishabh Pant caught Mitchell Starc short with a stunning direct hit at the non-striker’s end.
Snippets from Rishabh Pant’s run-out of Mitchell Starc. (Screengrab)
A stunning direct hit from Rishabh Pant earned India the eighth wicket of the second Australian innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the fourth Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Mitchell Starc fell short of the non-striker’s end trying to take a second run after he was sent back by skipper Pat Cummins and had to go back for 5 (13).
It happened on the first ball of the 59th over. Starc tucked a length ball from Jasprit Bumrah away to deep square and took the single easily. He ran down almost half the track for a second before turning back. Pant received a flat throw from the outfield, positioned himself in front of the stumps, took his glove off and threw it low and flat at the other end.
Bumrah was ready to collect it but swayed his hands away as the ‘keeper ended up yorking the middle pole. Watch the video of his stunning display of reflexes here:
Pant has had a tough Border-Gavaskar Trophy and this moment might give him more confidence. He was one of India’s best batters in the Perth win but struggled for a big score in Adelaide and at the Gabba, while also missing a good few chances behind the stumps.
Even in the first innings at the MCG, he got out for 28 (37) after looking extremely comfortable at the crease. The shot for his dismissal — a ramp that got a leading edge — prompted former India captain Sunil Gavaskar to call him ‘stupid’ on air.
Even during India’s last tour of Australia, where he emerged as the biggest match-winner, he came to his best form in the final two Tests. India would hope that begins again in the second innings at the MCG, where they’d likely have to chase a record total.
Starc’s wicket saw Australia reduced to 156-8, 261 runs ahead of India’s second innings score. No team has chased more than 250 to win a Test at the MCG in this century. The pitch is neither too threatening nor flat, but it would require a mix of application, attrition and intent from the visitors to win and take an impregnable 2-1 lead in the series.
- Location :
Melbourne Australia
