Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in support of Rishabh Pant after the wicket-keeper batsman received a lot of flak for dismissal on the third morning of the Melbourne Test match.
He was looking well set on 28 off 37 balls as he resumed the innings with Ravindra Jadeja. However, he gave away his wicket trying to play an unorthodox shot and getting caught at third ban. From Australia's perspective, it was a planned wicket as it worked.
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar during his commentary stint while Pant was dismissed said he played a stupid shot to get himself out. His angry reaction went viral all over on social media.
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Gavaskar later clarified his stance on Pant's dismissal and said that while the shot was not on, Pant by all means had a little bit of bad luck involved in his dismissal as well.
"I think earlier on, when there had been no fielders around, that's when he's attempted these shots, that is understandable because you're taking a very good chance. That [the shot] was supposed to go to the leg side, that went to the off side, it actually tells you maybe [there was] a little bit of bad luck involved, but terrible selection of a shot to play at that particular point with two fielders down at deep square-leg and deep point" Gavaskar said on Star Sports during the lunch break.
Rishabh Pant's 40 In SCG Test Went Unnoticed: R Ashwin
Now R Ashwin has backed up the young Indian wicketkeeper-batsman saying that he had a good defense. To back his comment, Ashwin highlighted Pant's innings of 40 in the first innings of the Sydney Test where he took a lot of blows on his body. In the second innings, he scored a free-stroking 60 to keep India in the chase.
“Test cricket is never easy. In Sydney, he played two contrasting innings. His 40 in the first innings, where he was hit all over the body, went unnoticed. But his second-innings fifty was praised by everyone” Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel.
“I’ve bowled to him in the nets. He doesn’t get out, doesn’t edge the ball, or get trapped LBW. People think he just plays shots, but his defensive game is strong,” Ashwin further explained.
Rishabh Pant scored 255 runs in the recently concluded series against Australia at an average of 28.33 and a strike rate touching 60. Meanwhile, R Ashwin retired from international cricket after the end of the third Test in Brisbane. He played the second Test in Adelaide where he took just one wicket.
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Ashwin ended as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 wickets, second only to Anil Kumble's tally of 619. He also finished as the Indian off-spinner with the most wickets in Tests.
