Rishabh Pant's 29-ball fifty a befitting reply to Sunil Gavaskar's ...

The social media exploded with uncountable memes targeting legendary Sunil Gavaskar after Rishabh Pant's 29-ball fifty against Australia in the second innings of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). At Day 2 stumps, India are 141/6 with a lead of 145 runs. 

Gavaskar, who is currently on commentating duties in the BGT 2024-25, had ranted “stupid stupid stupid” after the Indian wicketkeeper was dismissed while trying an unorthodox shot on Day 3 morning of the fourth Test in Melbourne. 

In Sydney, Pant emerged in a new avatar as he tore into the Australian bowling arena with a flurry of boundaries and sixes against Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Beau Webster.

Coming in after the dismissal of Shubman Gill, Pant was in a mood from the onset. With India already four wickets down, Pant felt the need for runs and went his natural way of strokeplay as he executed his ramp shots to perfection.

The southpaw started with a six off Boland on his first ball before going rampant against debutant Beau Webster, who he smashed for three fours in an over. In fact, Pant completed his fifty with a flick off the pads against Starc, which went over the deep mid-wicket boundary. 

However, fans couldn't keep calm on social media as they felt it was a befitting reply to Gavaskar's remark from Melbourne. The netizens also flooded the social media with creative memes. 

Rishabh Pant breaks 50-year-old record

In the process, Pant also became the overseas batter with a fastest fifty on Australian soil, completing his half-century in just 29 balls. His fifty was also the fastest by a visiting batter on Australian soil surpassing 33-ball efforts by England's John Brown (Melbourne, 1895) and West Indies' Roy Fredericks (Perth, 1975).