Rishabh Pant has became the youngest wicketkeeper to hit a Test century in Australia, proving he has just as much poise as power in his finest Test knock for India.
Aged just 21, Pant piled more pain on the Australians at the SCG on Friday when he became the second centurion of India's marathon first innings before finishing unbeaten on 159 when Virat Kohli declared at 7-622.
After Cheteshwar Pujara was finally out for 193, Pant's second century of his career put India within touching distance of their first Test series victory in Australia, and assured them full control of the game.
In doing so, Pant also became the first Indian gloveman to make a Test ton in Australia, and also the youngest wicketkeeper to make a hundred against Australia.
He eclipsed the mark held by Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana, who was 22-years-old when he made an unbeaten 132 in Colombo in 1992.
Arriving in Australia with a reputation as more of a basher who excited fans with his tendency to swat across the line, Pant showed he meant business from his first boundary on Friday when he cover drove Mitchell Starc for four.
His next was equally as classy, jamming down on a Starc yorker that went to the mid-on boundary, while he picked the gaps in the ring smartly to accumulate his score.
"I don't think anything changed for me, but the main thing I was playing with the batsmen this time," Pant said.
"Most of the time when I got starts I was batting with the tail I have to think differently because most of the time I have to score runs.
"When you are batting with a batsman it is a different thing. You saw that today."
He brought up his century off 137 balls when he whacked a full ball from legspinner Marnus Labuschagne through mid-wicket for his 10th boundary.
He then upped the ante after reaching three figures, becoming more audacious as he and Ravindra Jadeja (81) put on an SCG record 204-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
At one stage he switch hit Travis Head for four, and not long later whacked Nathan Lyon back over his head for the first six of his innings.
"To be honest I was a little nervous because in India when we were playing West Indies I got out on 92 and 92," he said.
"So I was scared slightly.
"The best part of my batting is that everyone in the team has given me freedom to express myself. Every time I go to bat I just enjoy myself, that's what I love to do."
