"Should be criticized only for his failures rather than how he fails" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Indian batter after BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has defended Rishabh Pant after the debatable nature of his dismissals in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. In both innings, the wicketkeeper-batter got out while trying to play expansive shots and has thus copped a lot of criticism for his aggressive approach.

In the first innings, Pant was caught at fly slip while trying to attempt an outrageous scoop shot off Scott Boland's bowling. He was hit on the body while attempting the same shot on the previous delivery and earned the wrath of fans and pundits alike for attempting the shot again despite failing the first time.

The left-handed batter resorted to a defensive mindset as India aimed for a draw after being reduced to 33-3 on the final day. He played out over 100 deliveries for his 30 before going for an ill-fated slog off Travis Head's half-tracker in the early stages of the final session.

The dismissal triggered a collapse as India went from 121-3 to 155 all out, handing Australia a 184-run win to take a 2-1 series lead, with one match to go.

Manjrekar felt Pant should not be criticized based on how he was dismissed, as his methods have brought results for India in the past.

"Pant should be criticised only for his failures, rather than how he fails. He averages 42 in Tests with at least 3 great inngs, ever played by an Indian! In 42 tests he has 6 hundreds & 7 nineties. He is a great player not scoring enough runs & that’s the crux of it," Manjrekar wrote on X.

Rishabh Pant has had a mediocre Border-Gavaskar 2024-25 campaign so far and has yet to score a fifty after four Tests. He has 154 runs in seven innings at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 51.16.

"Rishabh Pant, obviously, he needs to understand what is required from himself" - India captain Rohit Sharma

Several former players criticized the wicketkeeper-batter after his manner of dismissal in the first innings. Skipper Rohit Sharma was also asked about Pant's questionable decision-making at the end of the fourth Test in Melbourne.

"It's [Pant's dismissal] just happened, there hasn't been any discussion about today. Obviously we've lost the game, everybody is disappointed about how things panned out … But again, look, Rishabh Pant obviously he needs to understand what is required from himself," Rohit Sharma said during the post-match press conference (via ESPNcricinfo).

"More than any one of us telling him, it's about him understanding and figuring out what's the right way to go about it. In the past, he has given us lot of success doing what he does. As a captain, there's a kind of mixed reaction to that," he added.

Pant will be seen in action during the fifth and final Test of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scheduled to begin on January 3.