Former India coach Ravi Shastri has backed Rishabh Pant after his dismissal on Day 3 of the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test (Saturday, December 28) as well. However, Pant was dismissed for 28 off 37, playing a risky shot and faced backlash from fns and critics, especially former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.

“It’s not in every innings he has attempted that shot. Let’s look at the way he was dismissed in each innings, he got 2-3 really good deliveries. He got a really good delivery that left off the length in Adelaide, there was no way he played an attacking shot,” he told Star Sports. “He got another one that left him, he was caught behind. Second innings in Adelaide, secodn ball of the day, he gets a good one from Starc and he nicks it. So, let’s calm down here, guys. It’s not every time he’s throwing it away. He got some good balls as well.”

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Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 28 runs off 37 balls as well. He got out to Scott Boland while attempting the lap/scoop shot, only to hand a top edge down to the third man as well.

“He had done the hard work. The field had spread out. That’s one aspect of his batting that has to change with time to come. He’s built up a reputation for himself, he comes to field, he smashes a boundary and the field spreads. That’s the time when maturity should come in, knock the ball around and take singles,” he concluded. “If he had got that, it would’ve been a six. He was looking to clear the field, that’s his instinct and that’s the way he plays. You must remember that there are 1-2 players who take the game away.”