India vs Australia: After playing the pivotal role in India's heart-warming and historical record-breaking chase in the series-deciding fourth Test against Australia at Gabba. Team India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant called the historic win the "biggest moment" of his life. Pant's mouthwatering knock (89 off 138) also helped India to claim their second successive Test series win Down Under. India successfully retained the Border-Gavaskar series by 2-1.
Pant has also silenced his critics forever by playing the innings of his life during India's successful run chase against Australia in Brisbane. The 23-year old wicket-keeper batsman has been named 'Man of the Match' for his stellar performances throughout the series.
The winning moment 🙌#AUSvIND | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/skaJTXB055
— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2021
The southpaw has scored 274 runs at an average of 68.5 including two half-centuries in three Tests to finish as India's highest run-scorer in the 4-match test series. Pant also surpasses the 'Captain Cool' MS Dhoni to become the fastest Indian wicketkeeper-batsman to score 1,000 Test runs.
1000 Test runs for @RishabhPant17 👏👏#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/TIzVoqA7Px
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2021
''This is one of my biggest days in life. The support the team has given me even when I was not playing has been incredible. It's a dream come true. We've been practicing hard after the first Test.
''The team management always backs me and tells me you are match-winner and you have to go out there and win and I am happy I did it today. It was a fifth day pitch and the ball was turning,'' the southpaw said after the post-match presentation.''
Pant took 26 innings to achieve this feat, while Dhoni had reached 1000 Test runs in 32 innings. Farokh Engineer (36 innings), Wriddhiman Saha (37 innings), Nayan Mongia (39 innings), Syed Kirmani (45 innings), and Kiran More (50 innings).