Melbourne, Dec 28, 2024 Amidst the severe criticism for Rishabh Pant over the rash shot leading to his dismissal in the ongoing Boxing Day Test, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel offered a different view, saying if one can praise Pant’s ultra-attacking approach, then they shouldn’t have a critical view on him falling in that fashion. On day three of the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, against Scott Boland in the 56th over, Pant had tried playing a falling scoop shot, but inside-edged the ball to his stomach and fell on the ground. Australia skipper Pat Cummins had placed fielders in the deep in fine leg and third man in case Pant repeated that shot.
It did happen that way as on the next ball Pant tried the same shot, but to his horror, this time the top-edge went to Nathan Lyon at deep third man, as the left-handed batter was dismissed for 28 off 37 balls, leaving India at 191/5 and were trailing Australia by 283 runs, though they managed to avoid the follow-on. In his Test career, Pant has garnered a reputation for making runs through unorthodox strokeplay, but his dismissal in Melbourne reopened the debate over whether that shot was to be played or not, as per what India’s situation was. While a livid Sunil Gavaskar slammed Pant and felt he let down India badly by throwing away his wicket, Parthiv had a different take, though he also said the shot wasn’t fine as per the situation the visitors’ were in first session’s play.
“There are two si.