"I will be standing up and screaming 'superb, superb, superb'" - Indian legend's massive take on Rishabh Pant ahead of BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his confidence in the out-of-form Rishabh Pant to come good in the crucial fifth and final Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test against Australia in Sydney. Gavaskar had slammed Pant after his first-innings dismissal in the fourth Test in Melbourne, terming the shot as 'stupid.'

Despite being well-set on 28, Pant went for an unorthodox scoop shot when India were in trouble, only to be caught at third man. Gavaskar, who was on air then, angrily shouted, 'stupid, stupid, stupid', before criticizing the gloveman.

Pant's second-innings dismissal also did not go down well with fans as he mistimed a long hop from Travis Head straight to Mitchell Marsh at long-on.

Pant's wicket sparked a horrific collapse as India lost their final six wickets for 28 runs in the final session of the Melbourne Test to suffer a massive 184-run defeat.

In his column for The Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the Sydney Test, Gavaskar wrote:

"I have been fortunate to see Pant play some fabulous orthodox century innings for India in England, South Africa, and here in Australia last time. He can do it again and if he does it in Sydney, I will be standing up and screaming ‘Superb, superb, superb.'"

He added:

"Playing for India is serious business with the millions who wake up early in the morning to see their favorite players and so bringing a festive air with chirps behind the stumps can lighten the pressure, but batting as if in a festival match is not the way to go about it."

Pant has struggled in the ongoing series so far, scoring only 154 runs at an average of 22 in seven innings. His poor returns have played a major role in India finding themselves at a 1-2 series deficit after four Tests.

"Pant is the man who the Australians fear the most" - Sunil Gavaskar

BORDER GAVASKAR TROPHY TEST: DEC 30 NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test - Source: Getty

Sunil Gavaskar emphasized the importance of Rishabh Pant for Team India, calling him the batter the Australians 'fear the most' in the visitors' lineup.

The wicketkeeper-batter played a crucial role in helping India win the 2020-21 series Down Under, with game-changing knocks in Sydney and Brisbane.

"Pant is the man who the Australians fear the most because of his ability to take the game away with his stroke play. On the last trip he took the attack to the Aussies in a most calculated way and was the main architect of the famous win at the Gabba that sealed the series for India," Gavaskar wrote in the same column.

He added:

"This time around more than calculated it is premeditated that has been his theme song and which has got him out. It’s as if he has decided that the only way to score this time is to attempt the ridiculously audacious."

Despite his struggles in the ongoing series, Pant averages an impressive 45.76 in 12 Tests in Australia, with a century and two half-centuries.