Rishabh Pant’s dismissal was the trigger that led to the Indian team’s spectacular collapse on day 5 of the fifth test in Melbourne against Australia. Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal stood in the middle, having led the ship from a hazardous 33/3 to a chase of 340 by the end of the first session.

The duo kept the second session wicketless, taking the score to 112/3 at the tea break. They scored nine runs to the total before Pant made a baffling shot and was caught in the deep.

Pant went for the big shot on Travis Head's short outside delivery, pulling it but unable to achieve the distance. Mitchell Marsh moved to his left and grabbed on for India's fourth wicket.

That was the start of the collapse, with India moving from 121/3 to 155 all out, 7 wickets for 34 runs, and losing the Test by 184 runs in the end.

Pant has previously faced criticism for his shot selection. India captain Rohit Sharma addressed the topic during the post-match press conference.

"He needs to understand what is required of himself, more than any of us telling him. It's about him figuring out what is the right way to go about it. In the past he's given us a lot of success doing what he does so as a captain there's a mixed reaction to that.

Sometimes you want to back that thought of him playing the way he plays, and sometimes when things don't look good, it frustrates everyone. The success and the failure, there needs to be a balance about it," said Rohit in the press conference.

"As a captain, it is hard to have a conversation when it has given him a lot of success as well. But it is about him figuring out what is the right way to do things. It is about the situation as well... if there is a risk percentage, do you want to take that risk, do you want to let the opposition come back into the game. Those are the things he needs to figure out himself,” he added.

Rishabh Pant scored 30 runs with the bat and was looking good as well. He, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, was taking India towards a draw.

"I know Rishabh for a very long time. I understand his cricket as well. In terms of conversations, it's not that there's not been a chat. He understands the expectations. The things that he does, give him results also. So it is the fine line between telling him not to do those things and telling him to do those things," further added Rohit.

The final Test of the series will be played in Sydney from January 3 onwards.

(PTI inputs)