Delhi: India's star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is facing criticism due to his soft dismissal on the third day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Pant lost his wicket while playing an unusual ramp shot during the first session off Scott Boland. This shot selection angered former captain Sunil Gavaskar. He termed it 'stupid' and suggested that Pant should bat lower in the order.
See also- 'I would be worried if…', Melbourne Cricket Club reacted to Kohli's abuse
Shastri defended Pant
However, his former coach Ravi Shastri defended Pant. Talking to Star Sports, he said, “It is not every time that he tried to play this kind of shot. We should look at the manner of his dismissal. In Adelaide, he got a brilliant ball which went wide of the length. He did not play any attacking shot on that.”
Shastri further said, “In the second innings too, he had to face a brilliant ball from Mitchell Starc on the very second ball and he was caught on the bottom edge. So stay calm, friends. It does not happen every time that he is getting out in an irresponsible manner. Many times he has also received good balls.
Shastri's advice to Pant
Although Shastri did not criticize Pant, he gave him an advice. He said that when the opposition captain spreads the field, Pant should play the ball for singles. Shastri said that if the ball on which Pant was out had been hit from the middle of the bat, it might have been a six.
Shastri said, “That was a high-risk shot. There is no doubt about it. The field was set, two fielders were on the boundary, one at fly slip and one at fine leg. Scott Boland was trying to throw the ball up. But, the ball did not hit the middle of the bat. If it had hit, it would have been a six. This is their game. He gives himself the confidence to play such shots.”
He further said, “This is his instinct, and this is his way of playing. We should not forget that there are some players who can change the course of the match.”
On the third day, Pant scored 28 runs in 37 balls. So far he has scored 124 runs in 6 innings of this series, and his average is 20.67.
Comments are closed.