During the India vs. Australia cricket match in Melbourne, Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant got out quickly. He tried a risky shot called a “scoop shot” and was dismissed. This upset former Indian legend and current commentator Sunil Gavaskar who was watching the match. Gavaskar thought Pant’s shot was foolish because India was already in a difficult situation in the game. Pant, known for his aggressive style, fell for just 28 runs in India’s first innings, playing an unorthodox scoop shot off Scott Boland. With India struggling to recover in the high-stakes Boxing Day Test, Pant’s decision to play a risky shot left fans and experts questioning his shot selection. Gavaskar, commentating for the host broadcaster, labeled Pant’s decision “stupid,” criticizing his lack of awareness in a critical situation.
Sunil Gavaskar Got Angry on Rishabh Pant’s Dismissal
“Stupid, stupid, stupid! You have two fielders there, you still go for that shot. You have missed the previous shot and look where you have been caught. That is throwing away your wicket. Not in the situation that India was,” Gavaskar said, clearly irate. He added, “You cannot say that’s your natural game. That is a stupid shot that is letting your team down badly.”
Watch Sunil Gavaskar Video of Criticizing Pant Shot
Rishabh Pant looked unsure from the start. He almost got caught a few times and made some mistakes running between the wickets with his teammate Jadeja. Even though he started to play better, he tried a risky shot and got out.
Another commentator was surprised by Gavaskar’s strong criticism but didn’t say anything.
After Pant got out, Jadeja also got out quickly. But then, Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar helped India score more runs and stay in the game. Nitish Kumar Reddy saved the flickering hope of millions of Indian fans and went to score a 100 in 171 balls, as he stood strong on one end and built a strong 100-run partnership with Washington Sundar.