Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his deep passion for the sport, particularly regarding Indian cricket. He elaborated on his criticism of Rishabh Pant, who was dismissed after attempting a risky flick shot off Scott Boland's delivery during the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Gavaskar strongly condemned Pant's decision to play such a careless shot at a critical moment on Day 3, labelling it as "stupid" and suggesting that Pant should reconsider entering the Indian dressing room.

The segment featuring Gavaskar's critique of Pant while commentating for ABC Sport gained significant traction on social media, amassing over 8.5 million views across various platforms. ABC's Alison Mitchell noted that this clip was viewed by 0.006 of India's population.

During his commentary on Day 4 of the Melbourne Test, Gavaskar articulated the reasons behind his fervent criticism of Pant. 

"To be honest, this game has shaped my career. Indian cricket has been my foundation. Therefore, when I witness a player as gifted as Rishabh Pant make such a choice… I had no issues with his initial shot. My frustration stemmed from the fact that his ego took precedence on the subsequent delivery. I had just been struck in the midriff while attempting a similar shot. I felt compelled to assert dominance over the bowler. Test cricket is inherently challenging," Gavaskar stated.

'Demanded better shot selection'

Gavaskar emphasized that the circumstances of the match on Day 3 required Rishabh Pant to exhibit greater game awareness, particularly after he was dismissed for a mere 28 runs.

"When he was dismissed and the situation unfolded, I consistently pointed out that there were two fielders positioned deep. This is a large ground, making it challenging to hit sixes. The fielders were strategically placed in catching positions at deep square leg and deep fine leg. However, he ended up being caught at third man after edging the ball," Gavaskar remarked.

The former captain of India and renowned batsman noted that Rishabh Pant possesses the ability to play in a more traditional style, which could help the team navigate difficult scenarios.

"I have witnessed Rishabh Pant deliver some remarkable innings. However, during this series in Australia, it seems he believes that lofting the ball is his only method of scoring runs. He steps down the pitch and attempts to hit boundaries," Gavaskar stated.

"Yet, this has not always been his approach to scoring runs in the past. While he has executed those shots exceptionally well, it appears he is relying on them too heavily. I have seen him play effective cover drives along the ground, as well as square cuts, pull shots, and flicks off the pads. He has a full repertoire," he continued.

Gavaskar further commented, "Indeed, had he made contact and hit a six, I would have commended the shot. However, the reality is that he got out, and there exists a delicate balance between being carefree and being careless with the bat. I believe he crossed that threshold."

As the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India approaches its conclusion, the match remains finely poised, with all four outcomes still possible. Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland have forged a 50-run partnership for the final wicket, allowing the hosts to extend their lead to over 330 runs.

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