“Not every time he's throwing it away” – Shastri Defends Rishabh Pant After Wicketkeeper Earns Flak From Gavaskar

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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has come in defence of Rishabh Pant after the Indian wicketkeeper-batter earned some flak from legendary Sunil Gavaskar for the manner of his dismissal during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne.

Pant, who did all the hard work at the MCG to get his eye in, played an an audacious ramp shot to only to hole out to the fielder at deep third-man for 28, gifting his wicket to Scott Boland with India's total reading 191 for 5 in response to Australia's 474.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid. You've got two fielders there and you still go for that (shot). You had missed the previous shot, and look where you've been caught. You've been caught at deep third-man," Gavaskar reacted in anger during commentary.

"That is throwing away your wicket - not in the situation that India was. You have to understand the situation as well. You cannot say that's your natural game. I am sorry. That is not your natural game. That is a stupid shot; that is letting your team down badly."

While he was slammed by Gavaskar, another legend, who is also doing commentary during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shastri defended Pant, saying the wicketkeeper-batter has not attempted that shot in every innings and has also faced some unplayable deliveries at times.

"It's not in every innings he has attempted that shot. Let's look at the way he was dismissed in each innings, he got 2-3 really good deliveries. He got a really good delivery that left off the length in Adelaide, there was no way he played an attacking shot," Shastri told Star Sports.

"He got another one that left him, he was caught behind. Second innings in Adelaide, second ball of the day, he gets a good one from Starc and he nicks it. So, let's calm down here, guys. It's not every time he's throwing it away. He got some good balls as well."

Shastri, however, said Pant needs to make good of his reputation as he gets the field spread on his arrival. The former coach added the Indian wicketkeeper-batter should also look for singles when the fielders are pushed out of the circle, rather than play a high-risk shot.

"He had done the hard work. The field had spread out. That's one aspect of his batting that has to change with time to come. He's built up a reputation for himself, he comes to field, he smashes a boundary and the field spreads. That's the time when maturity should come in, knock the ball around and take singles," added Shastri.

"That was a high-risk shot. There was no doubt about that. The field was set, two fielders on the boundary pretty fine, a fly slip and a fine leg as well. Scott Boland was looking to ball up. It didn't come off the face of the blade, Rishabh backs himself to get the face of the blade.

"If he had got that, it would've been a six. He was looking to clear the field, that's his instinct and that's the way he plays. You must remember that there are 1-2 players who take the game away."