“Stupid, Stupid, Stupid”: Gavaskar Criticizes Pant

Veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is often vocal about Team India’s poor performance in the ongoing Test series against Australia. Today, he lashed out at Rishab Pant for his poor way of getting out and called his shot a stupid shot. Pant had literally gifted his wicket. He tried to scoop the ball bowled by Boland in his trademark style of getting down on his knees.
However, the ball takes a top edge on the bat and ends up landing safely in the hands of Nathan Lyon. This was an unnecessary shot by Pant, especially when the team was in trouble. Sunil Gavaskar was frustrated by Pant’s shot selection and lashed out at him on air.

He said, “Stupid, Stupid Studipid! You got two fielders there and you still go for that. You’ve missed the previous shot and look where you have been caught. You’ve been caught at deep third man. That is throwing away your wicket. Not in the situation that India was in. You have to understand the situation as well. You cannot say that is your natural game. That is a stupid shot. That is letting down your team badly.” “He should not be going in that (India’s) dressing room. He should be going to the other (Australia) dressing room,” he added.

Harsha Bhogle, who was the co-commentator, was also alarmed by Sunil Gavaskar’s sharp criticism and anger. Despite the top-order failure, India was saved by all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy (85) and Washington Sundar (40). By the time of the tea break, India scored 326/7 and trailed behind Australia by 148 runs.