4th Test: Parthiv Patel Defends Rishabh Pant's Approach Amid Criticism

Melbourne, Dec 28 (NationPress) Following the harsh backlash aimed at Rishabh Pant for his impulsive shot that resulted in his dismissal during the ongoing Boxing Day Test, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel shared a contrasting viewpoint. He stated that if critics appreciate Pant's highly offensive approach, then they should not express negativity when he gets out in that manner.

On the third day of the match held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Pant attempted a falling scoop shot against Scott Boland in the 56th over but ended up inside-edging the ball, leading to a fall. Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, had positioned fielders deep at fine leg and third man in anticipation of Pant repeating that shot.

Indeed, on the next delivery, Pant tried the same stroke once more, but this time his top-edge went straight to Nathan Lyon at deep third man, resulting in his dismissal for 28 runs off 37 balls. This left India struggling at 191/5, trailing Australia by 283 runs, although they managed to avoid the follow-on.

Throughout his Test career, Pant has earned a reputation for scoring runs through unconventional strokeplay, yet his exit in Melbourne sparked renewed debate over the appropriateness of such a shot given India's circumstances.

While a furious Sunil Gavaskar criticized Pant, feeling he significantly let India down by wasting his wicket, Parthiv offered a different opinion, though he acknowledged that the shot was not suitable given the state of play.

“There are two perspectives here – during the Adelaide Test when Rishabh Pant played an explosive shot, we celebrated those strokes. We also witnessed the reverse scoop and other inventive shots in his repertoire. My stance is that those who have lauded Rishabh Pant's style previously do not have the right to critique him for the shot that led to his dismissal, as this is simply how he plays,” explained Parthiv.

“Moreover, whenever he is dismissed, questions will inevitably arise. I agree that the shot was not appropriate for the situation, but this is Rishabh Pant's natural game. It's essential to evaluate whether his approach has led India to victory or helped them navigate challenging situations,” he added.

“However, if he continues to get out in such a manner and it significantly impacts the team, then it warrants discussion. In today’s match, the shot did not align with the requirements of the moment. But when we praise his style and acknowledge his ability to reverse-sweep fast bowlers for boundaries, we must also accept that he could get out similarly, and a comprehensive assessment can only be made by analyzing a larger sample size,” Parthiv stated on Cricbuzz.

He also pointed out a level of impatience displayed by Pant and Ravindra Jadeja while running between the wickets during their 32-run partnership for the sixth wicket. “This is the nature of his play, and if we criticize him for these kinds of shots, we cannot applaud him when they succeed in the future,” he remarked.

“Aside from this shot, there were signs of confusion in the running between the wickets by Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. Their attempts to take singles led to mix-ups that nearly resulted in a run-out,” he noted.

“With the Australian pace attack consistently targeting their areas, there was a lack of certainty in their efforts to rotate the strike, leading to frequent confusion. Furthermore, the shot Pant played was influenced by the lines and lengths bowled by the Australian bowlers, and he may have aimed to unsettle them and apply pressure,” he concluded.