Rishabh Pant has once again become a topic of intense debate among cricket fans after his reckless dismissal on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG. With India in dire straits, Pant’s decision to play an unorthodox scoop shot off Scott Boland’s bowling has left many fans and experts questioning his temperament and approach in high-pressure situations.
Known for his aggressive style and penchant for unconventional shots, Pant has delivered memorable innings in the past by playing boldly. However, in this instance, he was batting fluently with conventional cricket and had no need to take unnecessary risks. The left-hander was batting on 28 off 37 balls with three boundaries when he attempted a scoop shot against Boland’s full delivery from around the wicket.
AUS vs IND, Boxing Day Test: Day 3 Updates
The shot resulted in a top-edge, comfortably caught by Nathan Lyon at third man. At a time when the bowlers posed no significant threat, Pant had survived the challenging early overs but inexplicably threw away his wicket. This was a turning point as Pant had just weathered 45–50 minutes of disciplined bowling, only to throw his wicket away in a moment of audacity.
This was only the second instance since June 2021 of Pant being dismissed by a right-arm pacer bowling around the wicket in Test cricket. In this innings, he faced 28 deliveries from Boland and Cummins, of which only five were bowled from that angle. It was one such delivery that led to his downfall. Pant had previously attempted a similar scoop shot and missed, despite the presence of fielders at fine leg, deep backward square, and third man. His ill-timed and poorly executed shot left him off-balance and on the ground, indicating that he was never in control. This dismissal, a mix of poor execution and questionable judgment, has sparked discussions about his approach to high-pressure situations.
India began Day 3 with Ravindra Jadeja and Pant resuming at 164 for 5, facing an uphill battle to avoid the follow-on. Pant’s dismissal left India reeling at 191 for 6, with Nitish Reddy joining Jadeja in the middle. Washington Sundar, the only remaining recognised batter, had yet to bat. Meanwhile, Australia, having won the toss and amassed a massive 474 in their first inning, remained firmly in control of the game.
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