"If that is the case, he cannot bat at No. 5" - Indian legend makes a strong statement on Rishabh Pant's batting position

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar reacted strongly to Rishabh Pant's bizarre dismissal on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia on Saturday, December 28. He commented that if the keeper-batter is only going to bat in his unconventional manner, he cannot be sent in as high as No. 5.

Pant was dismissed for 28 in the first session on Day 3 of the 4th BGT 2024-25 Test against Australia. He attempted a premeditated scoop off Scott Boland, but got his timing horribly wrong and ended up getting caught at deep third man.

'Stupid, Stupid, Stupid' was Gavaskar's immediate reaction to the dismissal as he was on air for ABC Radio. Later, speaking on Star Sports, he elaborated on Pant's stroke and opined that the southpaw must be pushed down the order if he's going to bat in just one gear - to attack no matter what.

"It just appears to be that that's the only way he thinks he's capable of scoring runs," Gavaskar said.

"So if he's not going to be able to score runs the orthodox way, if he's only thinking that he's going to go down the pitch, hammering the ball over long-on, or just looking to play these shots, which means at the Test level you can't always succeed. Then you have got to be prepared for the fact that he will get you some runs sometimes. If that is the case, then he cannot bat at No. 5, he's got to bat down the order," the 75-year-old added.

Speaking specifically about Pant on Day 3 of the MCG Test, Gavaskar opined that the batter's shot selection was a terrible one considering Australia had specifically placed fielders at deep square-leg and deep point.

"I think earlier on, when there had been no fielders around, that's when he's attempted these shots, that is understandable because you're taking a very good chance. That [the shot] was supposed to go to the leg side, that went to the off side, it actually tells you maybe [there was] a little bit of bad luck involved, but terrible selection of a shot to play at that particular point with two fielders down at deep square-leg and deep point," the former India captain elaborated.

While India's overnight batters Pant and Ravindra Jadeja perished cheaply on Day 3, Nitish Kumar Reddy (105*) and Washington Sundar (50) lifted the visitors. The duo added 127 for the eighth wicket as India went to Stumps at 358-9.

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Rishabh Pant's underwhelming stats in BGT 2024-25

Considering his terrific Test record in Australia, Pant was expected to be one of India's top batters in BGT 2024-25. However, he has turned out to be a big disappointment. In six innings so far, the 27-year-old has only managed to score 124 runs at an average of 20.67. His best of 37 came in the first innings of the opening Test in Perth.