"Stupid, stupid, STUPID!" - Indian legend lambasts Rishabh Pant after dismissal on Day 3 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was left fuming after Rishabh Pant's unorthodox shot led to his dismissal during a crucial juncture of the first innings of the Boxing Day Test. The explosive left-handed batter attempted the lap shot off Scott Boland, only to be caught by Nathan Lyon.

After a collapse towards the end of Day 2, India needed the experienced pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant to put on a significant stand to evade trouble. While the duo began well, Pant invited chaos by gifting his wicket and giving Australia room to run through the lower order.

Only before his dismissal, Pant had attempted the same unorthodox shot but was down on the ground after being struck on his body.

Pant failed to make the most of good batting conditions, and minimise Australia's lead. His dismissal left India at 191-6 in the 56th over as Sunil Gavaskar exploded on air. The legend had warned Rishabh Pant to respect the conditions for a while before experimenting, following his bleak start to the Border-Gavaskar series.

"Stupid, Stupid, STUPID! You've got two fielders there, and you still go for that. You missed the previous shot, and look where you've been caught. That is throwing away your wicket. You cannot say that is your natural game. I'm sorry. That is not your natural game. This is a stupid shot. This is letting your team down badly. You have to understand the situation as well." Gavaskar said during commentary on ABC Sport

"He should not be going in that [India's] dressing room, he should be going in the other dressing room," Gavaskar added

Rishabh Pant scored 28 runs off 37 deliveries. The left-handed batter is yet to cross 30 in the ongoing tour. Skipper Rohit Sharma had defended the wicket-keeper's mediocre string of scores, claiming that it was not right to judge the player based on just three Tests.

"What Rishabh Pant has to do, like everybody else, respect the first half an hour" - Sunil Gavaskar

Rishabh Pant has been troubled by Pat Cummins' short-ball barrage in the series so far, losing his wicket to the Australian skipper in each of the first three Tests. Lacking rhythm and momentum, Gavaskar had advised Pant to play a conventional style of cricket, at least in the initial period of his innings.

"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," Gavaskar said on Star Sports (via Hindustan Times)

Nathan Lyon trapped Ravindra Jadeja lbw shortly after Rishabh Pant's dismissal. Team India are placed at 229-7 after 67 overs, as the lower middle-order battles on to avoid the follow-on.