Indian great Sunil Gavaskar has launched a stunning tirade at Rishabh Pant for a “stupid” dismissal before suggesting the visiting side’s wicketkeeper shouldn’t bother going back into the dressing rooms.
India’s performances with the bat in this series – named after Gavaskar and Australian counterpart Allan Border – have fallen apart since their first Test victory in Perth, with the tourists having failed to make a total of more than 260 across matches in Adelaide and Brisbane.
With the fourth Test in the balance, the tourists had made their way to 5-191 on Saturday morning at the MCG, still 283 runs behind Australia’s first innings score of 474.
Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, India’s last recognised batsmen with Test centuries to their name, were at the crease trying to chip away at the deficit when a major brain fade took place. On 28, Pant tried to hit Boland over Alex Carey’s head but the ball struck him on the body.
Pant tried to hit Boland’s next delivery over fine leg, falling onto the pitch while playing the shot which was easily caught at third man by Nathan Lyon.
Given the context of the match, the shot was risky in the extreme – and it left Gavaskar flabbergasted.
Rishabh Pant of India looks dejected after being dismissed by Scott Boland at the MCG on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” a fired up Gavaskar said on ABC Radio. “You’ve got two fielders there and you still go for that? You’ve missed the previous shot and look where you’ve been caught. You’ve been caught at deep third man. That is throwing away your wicket. You have to understand the situation as well.
“You cannot say that that’s your natural game. I’m sorry. That is not your natural game. That is a stupid shot. That is letting your team down badly. You have to understand the situation as well. He should not be going in that [India’s] dressing room. He should be going in the other dressing room.”
