"He deserves belt treatment for this absolutely nonsense shot" - Fans furious with Rishabh Pant's early dismissal on Day 3 of 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

Team India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant played one of the most questionable shots to be dismissed on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. With India reeling at 191/5, the southpaw attempted to play a scoop shot off a full-length delivery outside off-stump from Scott Boland.

However, Pant got it all wrong as he got a top edge that went straight into the hands of Nathan Lyon at third man. The 27-year-old walked back to the pavilion for a 37-ball 28, leaving India in further trouble at 191/5 and a deficit of 283 runs in the first innings.

Coming to the Australian series with high expectations after his heroics in the previous tour in 2020/21, Pant has struggled through the ongoing series. The gloveman has scored only 124 runs in six innings at an average of under 21 with a highest score of 37.

Fans on Twitter were outraged by Pant's brain fade in such a precarious situation and expressed their fury with the following reactions:

Fans continued to come down hard on Pant, with one saying:

"A brilliant player like Dhruv Jurel is sitting out because of this slogger Pant."

"Pant is the most useless player in the team. Except some flukes. Are bhaii, you are a cricketer and already 5 wickets were down. You have to save your wicket and play as long you can play. Naa ,BC karni h pitch pr hi," tweeted a fan.

"Irresponsible shot and Rishabh Pant out... Pant has to understand that he is not playing IPL. His shots look good in Test cricket, but only when needed. Team India had high expectations from him in 1st innings of Melbourne, but he gifted his wicket to Australia. Shameful batting," a fan said.

"Respect the first half an hour" - Sunil Gavaskar's advice to Rishabh Pant before Boxing Day Test

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar urged Rishabh Pant to play more cautiously and respect the first hour ahead of the ongoing Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Unfortunately, the advice fell on deaf ears as the wicket-keeper batter threw his wicket away despite looking solid playing orthodox cricket.

Speaking on Star Sports before the fourth Test, Gavaskar, as quoted by Hindustan Times, said:

"What Rishabh Pant has to do, like everybody else, respect the first half an hour; respect a little bit when he gets in there, whatever the position, unless, of course, India is 525 for 3; then he can tee off. They get the ball to angle across. Pat Cummins and even (Josh) Hazlewood give him a little bit of a problem; Scott Boland will give him a little bit of a problem because Boland bowls around that area as well."

Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy steadied the ship after Pant's unfathomable dismissal before the former fell to Nathan Lyon on 17. India are currently 222/7 in 65 overs in the first session on Day 3, trailing Australia's total by 252 runs.