New Delhi, Dec 31 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has stepped up to support Rishabh Pant, urging those who critique him to shift their focus towards the wicketkeeper-batter's overall outcomes instead of how he gets out.
The remarks followed Pant's controversial shot choices during the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne, which significantly contributed to India's collapse and subsequent defeat by 184 runs.
In the second innings of that Test, as India struggled to salvage the match, Pant was dismissed while attempting a daring six off Travis Head. This poorly timed shot led to his dismissal and ignited a collapse in the Indian batting order, rendering them unable to withstand the final 91 overs of Day 5.
India's defeat left them trailing 1-2 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, undermining their chances of making it to the WTC final and resulting in widespread criticism regarding Pant's decision-making.
Nevertheless, Manjrekar provided a more balanced viewpoint, asserting that Pant deserves criticism for not scoring significant runs rather than the way he gets out. On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Manjrekar pointed out Pant's strong Test record while advising against excessive scrutiny of his dismissals.
“Pant should be criticised only for his failures, rather than how he fails. He averages 42 in Tests with at least 3 great innings, ever played by an Indian! In 42 Tests, he has 6 hundreds and 7 nineties. He is a great player not scoring enough runs & that’s the crux of it,” Manjrekar tweeted.
His comments emphasized Pant's status as a match-winner who has excelled under pressure on several occasions in his young career, including notable performances in Australia.
Pant's contributions during the ongoing series have been lackluster, with the left-handed batsman accumulating just 154 runs in four matches (seven innings) at an average of 22. His highest score of 37 in the series starkly contrasts with his career-best showings.
Entering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Pant was in excellent form, having topped the run-scoring charts in India's previous series against New Zealand with a total of 261 runs in three matches. His remarkable century against Bangladesh in Chennai earlier this year, marking his Test comeback after a 21-month hiatus, further heightened expectations.
The bowlers from Australia, spearheaded by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, have effectively countered Pant's aggressive batting style with well-strategized plans. Unlike the 2020-21 series, where his unbeaten 89 at Brisbane secured a historic victory for India, Pant has found it challenging to make a mark this time.
