Picture Credit: Twitter
Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has rapidly made his name as one of the best in world cricket. While he still has a lot to prove in T20Is and ODIs, Pant has been at the forefront of several memorable moments in Test match cricket for India already in his short career.
Due to his swashbuckling batting style and ability to change the match in a few balls, the left-handed batter has cemented his position in all formats of the game. While Pant has played several match-winning knocks for Team India, his exploits in the fourth Test at the Gabba during the 2020-21 Test series in Australia which India won 2-1 stands out.
The 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 89 to power India to a historic series win at Australia's fortress, The Gabba. The Delhi Capitals captain played one of the most decorative innings at an iconic stadium to guide India to an exciting finish late on Day 5. While Pant's innings helped team India clinch the Border-Gavaskar trophy, reports have also hinted that his innings played a major role in Cricket Australia securing an AUD360 million right deal with Disney Star on Sunday.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Pant's phenomenal innings which helped India win The Gabba Test and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January 2021 remained fresh in executive memories. The popularity of that innings had extended the stature of Test cricket and executives felt at a time when lucrative T20 leagues are ruling the roost, Test cricket has tremendous following.
The report further added that CA's agreement with Disney Sar is a 'larger than the fee Nine was paying, as recently as a decade ago, for all cricket in Australia, AUD275 million between 2006 and 2013.'
Earlier, Cricket Australian on Sunday announced a historic deal with Disney Star to broadcast Australian cricket throughout India and other territories across Asia. In its statement, CA said that it feels the channel's reach will provide 'enormous exposure' for Australian cricket and for CA's commercial partners in the world's largest cricket market, which is Asia.
"We are extremely delighted and proud of our association with Disney Star from season 2023-24 onwards. Disney Star is synonymous with the game in India and we look forward to working with them to showcase quality of cricket which is being played in Australia," said Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley. Disney Star recently bagged the TV broadcast rights for the Indian Premier League from 2023-27.