Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back his frustration over Rishabh Pant’s shot selection, which resulted in his dismissal at a pivotal moment on the third morning of the MCG Test between Australia and India
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Gavaskar exclaimed during his live commentary on ABC Radio, expressing his disappointment at Pant’s reckless dismissal.
Gavaskar criticized Pant for “letting India down badly” by throwing away his wicket at a critical juncture in the game.
“You’ve got two fielders there, and yet you still go for that shot. You missed the previous one, and look where you’ve been caught,” Gavaskar vented, unable to contain his frustration in the commentary box. “That is throwing away your wicket,” he added.
Continuing his outburst, Gavaskar dismissed another commentator’s attempt to analyze the situation, stating, “You have to understand the situation. You can’t just call this a ‘natural game.’ I’m sorry, but that is not a natural game.”
“That’s a stupid shot, and it’s letting your team down badly!” he reiterated.
Pant, who had been batting positively with a quick 28 off 37 balls, fell while attempting an ill-advised scoop shot off Scott Boland. The ball found Nathan Lyon at deep third man, ending his promising innings prematurely.
Gavaskar’s sharp criticism targeted Pant’s reckless approach, accusing him of failing his team at a crucial stage of the match.