Sat Jan 04 00:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Pant Battles Through Pain, India Faces Tough Start in Sydney Test
**Sydney, Australia –** Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant displayed remarkable resilience on the first day of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney, scoring 40 runs despite being struck eight times on his torso. Despite the pain, Pant was India’s top scorer in a challenging first innings, showcasing his determination.
“Definitely it’s painful,” Pant acknowledged, “but sometimes you have to do the hard work for the team.” He attributed a tense exchange between Jasprit Bumrah and an Australian player to time-wasting tactics.
Assessing the pitch, Pant described it as challenging, noting significant movement off the wicket and suggesting a par score would be significantly higher than India’s first innings total of 185. He also commented on Washington Sundar’s dismissal, advocating for upholding on-field umpire decisions unless overwhelmingly contradicted by technology.
The absence of captain Rohit Sharma due to a management decision also weighed on the team, Pant admitted, adding that Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy emphasizes positivity and focus on the present. India ended the day facing a significant deficit, setting the stage for a tense encounter in the remaining days of the Test.
First Piper 