Rishabh Pant has always been a player who counters with aggressive shots whenever India is under pressure. This trend has not changed even when Rishabh Pant is leading the Indian cricket team in the ongoing second and final Test against South Africa in Guwahati.
The explosive left-handed batsman first tried to reduce the pressure by hitting a six off the off-spin of Simon Harmer, but then became cautious after losing the wicket of Dhruv Jurel. After the tea break, Pant also went after Marco Johnson. But this time the aggressive move of the acting captain backfired.
Rishabh Pant’s aggression once again backfired and led to India’s defeat in Guwahati
Jensen bowled a good length ball and Panath stormed the pitch in search of a big hit. On the third day in Guwahati, instead of the ball connecting straight, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman found a thin edge and the ball went straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Kyle Verrey.
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Pant walked back after scoring just 7 runs off 8 balls, leaving India in deeper trouble at 105 for 4. While getting out, he also wasted a review. With India already struggling in the innings, Pant’s risky shot put them in further trouble when they needed stability the most.
Even in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India’s Test vice-captain tried to play his natural aggressive game but was caught out on the leg side. Corbyn Bosch bowled a sharp bouncer and Pant could only hit it down the leg side, where wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne completed the catch. The Indian star could score only 27 runs in 24 balls.
In the second innings, South African spinner Simon Harmer bowled a fast yorker at a speed of 91 kilometers per hour and Pant could not lower his bat in time. The ball hit his pads and he was out LBW for just 2 runs. Notably, the current Test series marks the return of Pant after recovering from a leg injury.
Parthiv Patel and Aakash Chopra criticized Rishabh Pant’s ‘careless’ attitude
Reacting to his dismissal in Guwahati, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel felt that Pant’s dismissal was nothing new, adding that it was the kind of high-risk shot he often plays in Test cricket. He pointed out that sometimes it turns into a brilliant boundary, but sometimes it leads to Pant’s wicket, and that is the nature of his aggressive style.
Parthiv Patel said on Star Sports, “You get to see such shots from Rishabh Pant. Most of the time they are executed, but not here. I am not trying to justify the shot selection, but you see Rishabh Pant getting out like this in Test cricket. We have seen it many times.”
He will reverse scoop and get out to third man. When he jumps and takes a shot like this, we praise him for playing an amazing shot. But this happens when he gets out. Because if you are playing high risk cricket then you will get out like this.
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Rishabh Pant is a double-edged sword: Aakash Chopra
Meanwhile, former Indian batsman turned commentator Aakash Chopra admitted that Pant’s last two dismissals looked “careless”. He also told that when Pant’s risky shots work, people praise them and when they don’t, people question them. However, Chopra said that the main issue is that Pant has not scored runs in the ongoing Test series against South Africa at home.
Aakash Chopra said during the same discussion, “Careless batting. Rishabh Pant is a double-edged sword. If you criticize him now, you will lose the right to praise him. Criticism of Rishabh Pant will always be about the result. What happened? Did he score runs or not?”
“Because if you don’t score runs, there will be criticism. There will be discussion on that. His way of scoring runs or his way of getting out. He has not scored runs and that is a problem. But he is coming back from injury,” Chopra said.
What are your thoughts on Rishabh-Panti style of batting?
The high risk and high reward approach has benefited Team India in the past. But should this method be adopted every time? #INDvSA Second Test, Day 3 live now https://t.co/Q2ZQvwvqsx@parthiv9 @cricketaakash, pic.twitter.com/AsJ3tUc7gf
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 24 November 2025
