"They wouldn’t have been talking about reckless batting like this" - Ex-Australian bowler on Rishabh Pant's dismissal in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former Australia pacer Damien Fleming remarked that the Indian dressing room might have been left disappointed with Rishabh Pant's atrocious shot selection that led to his dismissal on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test. The wicket-keeper batter attempted an unorthodox scoop shot off Scott Boland, only to be caught by Nathan Lyon in the first session of the first innings.

Team India were placed precariously at the end of Day 2, and needed Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja to stitch up a partnership to steer the side out of trouble. While the left-handed batter began well, his instinct for unconventional shots got the better of him in the end.

Pant earned the wrath of fans and pundits after going for the shot despite failing to execute just a ball earlier. The fact that the field was set particularly for such a stroke and given it was such a crucial phase of the game, irked the majority.

Damien Fleming opined that the Indian contingent might have been expecting a mature innings from Pant, instead of 'reckless' batting.

“That is crazy. We were just talking about the leaders of the Indian team having a big chat this morning. I tell you what, they wouldn’t have been talking about reckless batting like this. He got away with it the previous ball. Nathan Lyon takes a room service catch," Fleming said on Channel Seven during commentary (via The Sydney Morning Herald)

Team India were reduced to 191-6 in the 56th over following Pant's departure. The visitors lost Ravindra Jadeja soon after, and have had to rely on the all-rounder pair of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar to avoid the follow-on.

Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 28 runs off 37 deliveries

The wicket-keeper batter was once again able to build up a start, but it led to nowhere on this occasion too. He is yet to score a fifty in the Border-Gavaskar series and has had trouble, particularly against Pat Cummins. The Australian skipper has already dismissed him thrice in the series.

His first innings outing at the MCG amounted to 28 runs off 37 deliveries, with three fours at a strike rate of 75.68.