Pat Cummins Dominates Rishabh Pant as India's Struggles Continue at the Gabba

Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, reaffirmed his supremacy over Rishabh Pant in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, dismissing the Indian wicketkeeper-batter yet again during Day 3 of the Brisbane Test. Pant, making his highly anticipated return to the Gabba—a venue of his iconic heroics in 2021—was unable to replicate past glories, falling victim to Cummins for the third time in five innings.

The dismissal further compounded India’s woes after their top-order collapse. Facing a testing delivery in the 14th over, Pant was undone by Cummins' precision. A good-length ball outside off stump reared up with extra bounce, luring Pant into a tentative poke that ended in Alex Carey’s gloves. His dismissal for just nine runs left India struggling at 48/4 before rain intervened for the fifth time in the day.

Pant’s Form: A Shadow of the Past

Rishabh Pant’s performances this series have been a stark contrast to his previous exploits in Australia. Known for his aggressive batting, Pant has found it difficult to counter the Australian bowlers, especially Cummins. In four innings leading up to the Brisbane Test, he had managed only 90 runs, and his first innings at the Gabba added just nine more to his tally. Cummins, in particular, has been his nemesis, dismissing him three times while conceding just 22 runs across 41 deliveries this series.

This is a sharp turnaround from their prior encounters, where Pant had scored 91 runs off 141 balls against Cummins without losing his wicket. The shift in momentum has highlighted Cummins’ evolution as a bowler and Pant’s struggle to rediscover his rhythm.

India’s Batting Collapse

India’s struggles at the Gabba began right from the opening over.. Mitchell Starc’s fiery opening spell set the tone, claiming the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill within the first few overs. Starc’s second victim came courtesy of a stunning diving catch by Mitchell Marsh.

Virat Kohli, who has faced criticism for his vulnerability outside the off-stump, fell to a similar dismissal, edging a delivery to the slips. The early collapse left India’s middle order exposed, and Pant’s departure only deepened the crisis.

A Sliver of Hope Amid Rain Delays

As rain disrupted play multiple times throughout the day, it provided a brief respite for India’s batting unit. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, the two experienced campaigners at the crease, took the opportunity to strategize against an Australian bowling attack that had relentlessly applied pressure.

Australia’s bowlers, led by Cummins and Starc, have dominated the series so far, exploiting every chink in India’s batting armor. While the visitors hoped for a reset during the rain breaks, the task ahead remains daunting, with their comeback hopes hanging by a thread.

What Lies Ahead

The Brisbane Test has exposed significant gaps in India’s batting lineup, particularly against the sustained pressure of Australia’s pacers. For Rishabh Pant, the series presents an urgent challenge to recapture his former glory and contribute meaningfully to his team’s fortunes.

As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy progresses, India will need more than just resilience—they will need a dramatic turnaround to avoid conceding the advantage to a dominant Australian side.