India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has once again come under the scanner for throwing away his wicket with his poor shot selection.
In the Super-4 clash of the Asia Cup 2022 against Pakistan on Sunday (September 4), Pant attempted a reverse-sweep off leg-spinner Shadab Khan but his execution was far from right as he hit the ball straight to Asif Ali at backward point.
The southpaw gifted his wicket for just 12-ball 14 when his team needed him to play responsibly and stitch a big partnership with Virat Kohli. As a result, Pant received flak from the fans and former cricketers alike.
After the game, former India opener Gautam Gambhir questioned Rishabh Pant's shot-selection which led to his dismissal.
"... Rishabh Pant will be disappointed because that's not his shot, his shot is probably hit it over long-on or deep mid-wicket, you end up hitting over there and get out, absolutely you can take it because that's your strength. Your strength is not reverse-sweeping," Gambhir told Star Sports after India's 5-wicket loss to Pakistan.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram and ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri also echoed Gambhir’s sentiment on Pant's adventurous stroke.
"Especially, Gauti, at that stage of the game, there was no need to play that shot. I know he plays that shot in Test cricket, I know he is one of the top players in world cricket but in this stage of the game, that shot wasn't required," Akram said.
Shastri remarked: "Particularly after what he saw Rohit, Rahul and others were doing. Where were the runs coming? It was down the ground and in the V. It was a beautiful pitch, hats off to the groundsmen, the ball was skidding on to the bat. That's his strength, he can smack it. No boundary is big for Rishabh Pant if he connects it, but that's his area. Absolutely, right."
Coming to the match, the Men in Blue posted 181/7 in their 20 overs on the back of Virat Kohli’s 44-ball 60 and vital contributions from Rohit Sharma (28 off 16 balls) and KL Rahul (28 off 20 balls).
In reply, Pakistan rode on the 73-run stand between Mohammad Nawaz (42 off 20 balls) and Mohammad Rizwan (71 off 51 balls) to overhaul the target with one delivery to spare.
