Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke reckons Rishabh Pant will definitely regret playing an attacking shot in the second innings of the fourth Test at the MCG. At tea on the final day of the penultimate Test, India had seven wickets in the kitty and looked all set to play out a draw.
However, Pant had other ideas as he went for a big shot against part-time spinner Travis Head and holed out to Mitchell Marsh at long-on. Pant was settled at the crease after scoring 30 runs from 104 balls but his dismissal opened the door for Australia.
The home team went on to register a comprehensive win of 184 runs as India lost their last seven wickets for 34 runs to be bundled out for 155.
Michael Clarke said on Around the Wicket podcast, “I Think his shot in the second innings was one he’ll probably regret even more. With the situation of the game, they were building a partnership and batting so well together, they really were stopping Australia from winning the Test match.”
“It was muscle memory and he just reacted. Saw it short and tried to hit it out of the park. He could have hit it hard but just along the ground. And when you are a big player and someone that’s scored Test hundreds and there’s expectation, if you are getting out like that, you are going to cop criticism. He is a wonderful player, just shot selection at the right time evaded him,” added Clarke.
On the other hand, former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons Pant should be criticized for his failures rather than how he fails.
Manjrekar wrote on X, “Pant should be criticised only for his failures, rather than how he fails. He averages 42 in Tests with at least 3 great inngs, ever played by an Indian! In 42 tests he has 6 hundreds & 7 nineties. He is a great player not scoring enough runs & that’s the crux of it.”
The fifth and final Test match between Australia and India will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 onwards.
