There was no need to play that shot: Gautam Gambhir, Wasim Akram, and Ravi Shastri criticize Rishabh Pant for his reckless shot against Pakistan

India lost their first Super 4s game against Pakistan on Sunday (4 September). There were a few factors that resulted in a defeat for India. A mini collapse was certainly one of the reasons. After getting an invitation to batting first, India put on a show as the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul notched up a 50-run partnership in just 26 balls. Although Sharma fell shortly after, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul continued with the hitting. 

After Rahul fell, Suryakumar Yadav joined Kohli in the middle and kept the momentum going with a couple of boundaries here and there. But Yadav too perished and Rishabh Pant walked out to bat. With three quick wickets, the Kohli-Pant pair was expected to knock a few balls and then bring the aggressive mode into play. However, as it is with Pant, the wicketkeeper did not hold back and tried reverse-lapping Shadab Khan. 

However, Pant ended up handing a dolly to the backward point fielder and got out cheaply (14 off 12). While his intention was to take the attack back to Pakistan, Pant’s shot selection was the issue there. After India lost the game, Gautam Gambhir, Ravi Shastri, and Wasim Akram collectively criticized Pant for his recklessness. 

All three pointed out that such a shot was not required at that stage of the game when India were looking to rebuild the innings.

“Rishabh Pant will be disappointed because that’s not his shot. His shot is probably hit it over long-on or deep mid-wicket, you end up hitting over there and get out, absolutely you can take it because that’s your strength. Your strength is not reverse-sweeping,” Gambhir told Star Sports. 

“Especially at that stage of the game, there was no need to play that shot. I know he plays that shot in Test cricket. I know he is one of the top players in world cricket but at that stage of the game, that shot wasn’t required,” Akram joined Gambhir in criticizing Pant’s shot selection. 

Meanwhile, Shastri said that he should have tried playing straight rather than going for a shot across the line. “Particularly after what he saw Rohit, Rahul and others were doing. Where were the runs coming? It was down the ground and in the V… “That’s his strength, he can smack it. No boundary is big for Rishabh Pant if he connects it, but that’s his area. Absolutely, right,” Shastri concurred.