[WATCH]- Rishabh Pant Dismisses Mitchell Starc With A Brilliant Direct Hit In BGT 2024-25 4th Test

On Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne on Sunday, December 29, India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant ran out Mitchell Starc with a brilliant direct hit. Starc, who had scored five runs, was dismissed in the 59th over of Australia’s second innings.

After Jasprit Bumrah bowled a short-length delivery, Starc played it behind square on the leg side for a single. Fielder Nitish Kumar Reddy quickly released the ball, and Starc attempted a second run, but Pat Cummins wasn’t interested.

As Starc turned back, Pant collected the ball and made a perfect direct hit to leave him short of his ground, showcasing excellent awareness. You can watch the video here:

https://x.com/flamboy_pant/status/1873237911455580266?s=46

Rishabh Pant in the spotlight as India pursues in the fourth innings

Rishabh Pant will be crucial in India’s chase in the fourth innings against Australia in Melbourne. The left-handed batter has struggled to make significant scores in the series, with performances of 37 & 1 (Perth), 21 & 28 (Adelaide), 9 (Adelaide), and 28 (in this game).

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized Pant’s shot selection in the first innings after he fell to an Australian strategy. He expressed his views on ABC Sport (via Sportskeeda):

“Stupid, Stupid, STUPID! You’ve got two fielders there, and you still go for that. You missed the previous shot, and look where you’ve been caught. That is throwing away your wicket.”

”You cannot say that is your natural game. I’m sorry. That is not your natural game. This is a stupid shot. This is letting your team down badly. You have to understand the situation as well.”

Rishabh Pant played a pivotal role in India’s 2-1 victory over Australia in the 2020-21 BGT series, scoring 274 runs in five innings at an average of 68.5, which included two half-centuries. In the current match, the hosts have extended their lead to 286 with nine wickets down in their second innings.

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