IND v SA 2025: “You can’t do that”- Rishabh Pant criticized for his reckless dismissal by Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn

India folded for 201 runs in first innings in reply to South Africa's 489 runs, trailing by 288 runs.

India’s stand-in captain Rishabh Pant came in for some heavy criticism for the way he was dismissed in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against South Africa, being played in Guwahati on November 24, 2025.

South Africa scored 489 runs thanks to Senuran Muthudwamy's 109 and Marco Jansen's 93.

In response, India responded well, with openers KL Rahul (22) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58) scoring 65 runs for the opening wicket. However, the Indian team quickly crumbled, going from 95/2 to 122/7 in no time. Sai Sudharsan (15), Dhruv Jurel (0), Rishabh Pant (7), and Ravindra Jadeja (6) were all dismissed in short succession.

This left India at 122/7 at one point, but Washington Sundar (48) and Kuldeep Yadav (19) contributed 72 runs for the ninth wicket to put India back in the game. But, finally, Marco Jansen's 6/48 bundled India out for 201 runs, giving South Africa a 288-run lead.

The most highlighted dismissal of the Indian innings was that of Rishabh Pant. Pant advanced down the track to Marco Jansen and took a wild swing at the ball, only managing to edge the ball to the wicketkeeper.

Pant even wasted a DRS review, with replays showing a huge spike in Ultra Edge as Pant walked back for 7 runs.

"Today's batters will say, 'This is my natural game.’ Then there is a situation, and you need to understand it. As far as the opposition's point of view, as long as Rishabh Pant is out there in the middle, South African bowlers won't be comfortable. They know he can take the game away from you in a flash. You can't do that after facing just 10 balls," Anil Kumble said on Star Sports.

"It's not like this was a Kolkata pitch where every ball bowled on a good length had his name written on it. It's not like that. It's a good surface; just hang in there. You will get the loose ball. It's not like Marco Jansen is going to bowl 20 overs on the trot. He is going to bowl one spell. You have got to hang in there. This is Test match cricket. Just bat session after session. This is a pitch where you have to bat long,” Kumble added.

On the other hand, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn said, "You can't win a Test in one over.”

He had also reacted to Pant’s dismissal, calling it a brain fade shot on X. He posted, "That is just a brain fade shot."  

South Africa ended day three on 26/0, with a lead of 314 runs.