'Whatever Pant doing is not working' - Dinesh Karthik slams batter's risky shot selection on Day 4 at Headingley
"Considering the conditions, the situation of the game, I don't think it was a percentage shot. I know he got the result, but the odds were definitely not stacked in his favor," said Karthik.
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik expressed his disappointment with Rishabh Pant’s unorthodox shot selection during a crucial phase in the first session of Day 4 in the opening Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
After India lost skipper Shubman Gill in the very first over of the day to Brydon Carse, Pant attempted to counterattack against a disciplined English pace attack. However, Karthik felt Pant’s approach lacked the needed patience and game awareness, especially at a time when India needed to consolidate.
"Considering the conditions, the situation of the game, I don't think it was a percentage shot. I know he got the result, but the odds were definitely not stacked in his favor. Playing a slog sweep to a bowler bowling 130 clicks, 140 in fact, does not make sense to me," Karthik said on air.
"Whatever Rishabh Pant is doing is not working, if I was KL Rahul, all I would tell him right now is to play the way we want instead of telling him be careful or don't play this shot, I don't think those messages sit with him," he added.
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The wicketkeeper-batter looked to unsettle the bowlers early in his innings by charging down the pitch to take on Chris Woakes. However, England's pacers quickly adjusted their approach, bowling from around the wicket and targeting his body. Pant was struck multiple times and looked uncomfortable with the disciplined line and length.
It was overheard that Pant found it difficult to maintain composure under such tight bowling. He responded aggressively by stepping out to smash Woakes down the ground on the very next delivery.
In the following over from Carse, Pant attempted a slog sweep but only managed a top edge. The ball went high behind the stumps, swirling in the wind before it landed safely in no man's land and trickled away to the boundary. Pant continued with his risky strokeplay, including a trademark scoop shot that saw him fall over in typical unorthodox fashion.
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