‘Rishabh Pant must understand…’: Rohit Sharma’s harsh message after MCG Test defeat

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma said that Rishabh Pant must understand what is required of him after their team’s crushing defeat to Australia in the fourth Test in Melbourne on Monday. Pant scored 30 off 104 balls in the second innings and the left-hander put together a brilliant partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal it almost brought India to safety. However, he was dismissed after a rash shot and this opened the floodgates as the visitors continued to lose wickets on a regular basis. Rohit said Pant needs to assess the risk percentage and play accordingly.

“Obviously he needs to understand what is required of himself. More than any of us telling him, it’s about him understanding and figuring out how to do it right. He’s given us a lot of success in the past by doing things that he, as a captain, has mixed reactions to.”

“Sometimes you want to support the idea that he plays the way he plays, sometimes when things don’t go well, it upsets everyone. This is for the captain and it is difficult for me to have a conversation when it has also brought him great success. But it’s about doing the right thing and also about certain situations. If there is a percentage risk, are you willing to take that risk? Do you want your opponent to come back into the game? Is this something he needs to figure out on his own?”

While Rohit said that he had discussions with Pant about his batting style in the past, the captain also highlighted the fact that the same style of batting has brought the wicketkeeper a lot of success in the past.

“I have known Rishabh for a long time, understand his cricket… As far as conversations are concerned, I can in no way say that I have not spoken to him or he does not understand what the term implies. He understands that But what he does also gives him results, it is a fine line between telling him not to do these things or telling him to do these things,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference.