Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar didn't hold back in expressing his frustration over Rishabh Pant's ill-timed shot during India's first innings of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Pant was dismissed for 28 after attempting a scoop shot off Scott Boland, leading to his downfall when Nathan Lyon caught him at third man.

Gavaskar lashed out at Pant’s reckless decision-making, calling his shot "stupid" and questioning his mindset in a critical phase of the match. Pant had started Day 3 in his usual aggressive style, hitting Pat Cummins for a six down the ground but was soon undone by his unconventional approach.

Speaking on commentary, Gavaskar was quoted as saying, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! He should not be going into the Indian dressing room - he should be going into the other dressing room!" The former captain was critical of Pant's dismissal and his overall approach, explaining that there was no need for such shots at this stage of the game, particularly with two fielders stationed deep.

During the lunch break on Star Sports, Gavaskar elaborated on his concerns, saying, "This is not T20 cricket or 50 overs cricket. You can't be playing those shots when there are fielders positioned for it. Pant has taken risks in the past, but with two men deep, it was just poor shot selection."

The former cricketer also suggested that Pant may not be suited for batting as high as No. 5 in Test matches if this remains his style of play. "If Pant is going to bat in this manner, then he cannot bat at No. 5. His style suggests he might score runs at times, but in Test cricket, this approach isn't sustainable."

Gavaskar went on to highlight Pant’s inconsistency, pointing out that in 18 innings, he has been dismissed between 20-39 runs 13 times, while scoring only three half-centuries. "Is that good enough for a No. 5 batter?" he questioned.