Sanjay Manjrekar Reaction on Rishabh Pant: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has defended Rishabh Pant, urging critics to focus on the wicketkeeper-batsman’s results rather than the manner in which he got out. The comments come in the wake of Pant’s controversial shot selection during the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne, which played a key role in India’s collapse and eventual 184-run defeat. During the second innings of the Melbourne Test, when India were struggling to save the match, Pant fell while attempting a risky six off Travis Head. He was out due to a mistimed shot and the Indian batting order collapsed, due to which they could not survive the last 91 overs of the 5th day.
India’s defeat left them 1-2 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, damaging India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final, with Pant’s shot selection widely criticized. However, Manjrekar offered a nuanced view, claiming that Pant should be criticized for his failure to score big scores rather than the manner of his dismissal. On social media platform
Manjrekar posted, “Pant should be criticized only for his failures, not for the way he failed. He averages 42 in Tests and has at least 3 best innings played by an Indian! 42 Tests “He has scored 6 centuries and 7 nineties. He is a great player who is not scoring enough runs and that is the essence of it.”
Pant should be criticized only for his failures, rather than how he fails. He averages 42 in Tests with at least 3 great innings, 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. #INDvsAUS— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 31, 2024
Manjrekar’s comments underlined Pant’s record as a match-winner, who has performed well under pressure several times in his young career, including historic performances in Australia. Pant’s contribution in the current series has been disappointing, the left-handed player has scored only 154 runs in four matches (seven innings) at an average of 22. His highest score in the series was 37 runs, which is in complete contrast to his career best performance.
Pant was in excellent form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he was the leading run-scorer in India’s last series against New Zealand with 261 runs in three matches. His brilliant century against Bangladesh in Chennai earlier this year further enhanced his return to Test form after 21 months.
Australia’s bowlers, led by players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, have succeeded in neutralizing Pant’s aggressive batting with good strategy. Unlike the 2020-21 series, where his unbeaten 89 in Brisbane helped India seal a historic win, Pant is struggling to make an impact this time.
