SYDNEY: Two days before the match, India’s fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar assembled the whole team in the centre of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Standing in the middle of the players’ huddle, Sridhar spoke passionately for five minutes. The message seemed quite clear—the fielding standards had to be raised.  For the next 40 minutes, all the players, including wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, did numerous drills and catching to ensure they were ready for the third Test.

Two chances in three overs

All the hard work had been done, but when it mattered the most, Pant let two opportunities slip. In the space of 18 balls, Pant dropped Australia’s debutant opener Will Pucovski twice. The first was a simple edge from a forward prod off Ravichandran Ashwin, and the second, a loopy catch that went above him which Pant failed to collect.