"Very hard to have a conversation" - Rohit Sharma on Rishabh Pant's shot selection in 2nd innings of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has opened up on Rishabh Pant's dismissal in the second innings of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test against Australia in Melbourne. Sharma disclosed that he will have a conversation with Pant about it, but at the same time, he also mentioned that the wicketkeeper-batter has achieved a lot of success while playing his natural game.

Rishabh Pant batted brilliantly in the second session to ensure India inched closer to a draw in Melbourne. He was batting on 30 off 103 balls when he tried to hit a six off part-tim spinner Travis Head's bowling. The ball ended up in the hands of Mitchell Marsh on the leg-side boundary.

After that, the Indian team collapsed, losing the remaining six wickets for just 34 runs. When asked about his thoughts on Pant's dismissal in the second innings, captain Rohit Sharma said at the post-match press conference:

"Everyone is disappointed about the result. He needs to understand what is required of himself rather than anyone telling him. In the past, he has given us a lot of success. As a captain, there’s a mixed reaction. We back when it comes off but when it doesn’t, is frustrating. There has to be a balance.

"As a captain it’s very hard to have conversation when it’s given him a lot of success. It’s just about the situation. If there’s risk-percentage, do you want to take risk? I know Rishabh for a long time and I understand his cricket. There have been conversations in the past. It’s not that he doesn’t understand what the team needs him. There’s a fine line between telling him what to do and what not do," Sharma concluded.

Pant had a solid 88-run fourth-wicket partnership with opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. The duo batted for 32.3 overs, and it looked like they would help India pull off a draw.

"The wicket was slowing down fair bit" - Rohit Sharma shares details of the team's mindset when chasing 340 on the final day of the Test

Australia set a 340-run target for India on the final day of the Melbourne Test. While there had never been a successful run-chase of more than 332 at the MCG, Rohit Sharma was asked if the Indian team came out with the mindset of chasing down the target.

"There’s no way we weren’t thinking of the target but for that you need to lay the foundation. We have done that in the past. Unfortunately, when Rishabh Pant fell, we know it’s going to be tough (chasing). You’ve to be realistic sometimes. The wicket was slowing down fair bit, a day five pitch," the Indian captain said.

Rohit Sharma concluded by saying that they were still optimistic when they had seven wickets in hand. However, he felt that Australia bowled excellent spells, which helped them win eventually.