Rishabh Pant is someone who has become a household name in India within a couple of years of the start of his international career because of the exciting brand of cricket that he plays with the bat, but as they say there is a fine line between aggression and recklessness and Pant, while batting in the second innings against South Africa at Wanderers earlier today, crossed that line.
India were leading by 58 runs ahead of the start of day 3 of the second test and the two overnight batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara batted brilliantly in the first hour of the day. They were aggressive in their approach, but at the same time were not reckless and were going after deliveries that were there to be hit.
However, with the uneven pace and bounce at Wanderers, it was impossible to bat for a long period of time with control and it wasn’t surprising that South Africa managed to break through with the back to back wickets of Rahane and Pujara in the second hour of the first session.
India needed the following batsmen to bat with the same approach that Pujara and Rahane batted with and collect runs without being reckless. But, the shot Rishabh Pant played off the third delivery he faced, it left everyone, including India’s coaching staff, in a state of shock.
Pant charged down the track to Kagiso Rabada, who was getting extra bounce off a length, and tried to smash him over the top straight down the ground. Because of a lot of carry off the surface, it was highly unlikely that Pant was going to time his shot perfectly charging down. The left hander ended up edging it to the keeper, as South Africa made their way back into the game with another wicket.
Rahul Dravid seemed extremely disappointed with the shot played by Rishabh Pant
The kind of position India were in, scoring runs was always the gameplan because an unplayable delivery was likely to be delivered eventually at some point with the way the surface was behaving. However, looking to score runs definitely didn’t mean slogging the ball, which Pant did. The Indian head coach Rahul Dravid was visibly unhappy with the shot, as he shook his head in disappointment in the Indian dressing room.
Not only the Indian head coach, but some of the Indian fans on twitter were quite displeased with Pant’s shot as well. Here is how twitter reacted as Pant was dismissed without scoring any run –
This is no way to get out. Rishabh Pant had to fight it out with the Test on line. Not buying this aggression at all #IndvsSAF
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 5, 2022
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Pant's natural game is aggressive and it's something which not everyone likes. But there's no substitute to game awareness. Rabada was breathing fire in that spell and Pant decided to take him on without even looking at how & where the ball was coming.
These things cost big.
Advertisement— Jaanvi🏏 (@ThatCric8Girl) January 5, 2022
Sunil Gavaskar on air is absolutely laying it into Rishabh Pant, 'Showed no responsibility, no fight' he says. (Source – Cricbuzz).
Advertisement— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) January 5, 2022
I would still want Rishabh Pant to play test cricket in whatever way he wants. Even if he wants to hit 6 sixes in an over, I would still back him because he has the ability and not just intent.
AdvertisementIt's just that I would want him to do that on his own discretion not on instigation.
— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) January 5, 2022
This was Rabada's 7th over in the spell. Most likely his last of the spell. Extremely poor from Pant. Zero game awareness.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) January 5, 2022
Annual reminder that Pant averages 12.3 while charging against pacers in Tests #SAvIND
— Somesh Agarwal (@someshagarwal22) January 5, 2022
Rishabh Pant in Test Cricket since WTC Final 2021:-
•Innings – 13
•Runs – 250
•Average – 19.23
•Strike Rate – 51.86
•HS – 50(Source – Cricbuzz)
Advertisement— ` (@FourOverthrows) January 5, 2022
Rishabh Pant is still so immature!! There was absolutely no need to respond to the short leg fielder's sledging?
AdvertisementCan't believe he stepped out against Rabada!
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) January 5, 2022
No method in this madness from Rishabh Pant. #INDvsSA
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) January 5, 2022
Come on Pant! You are better than this. pic.twitter.com/C5EmG60OS6
— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) January 5, 2022
