“You need to find the right balance”

India captain Rohit Sharma did not hold back while talking about Rishabh Pant’s dismissal at the MCG. The game ended in a painful 184-run defeat for India, and it is safe to say that Pant’s shot selection was one of the talking points.

Pant’s ability to play bold shots has worked wonders in the past, but this time it backfired… twice. In the first inning, he came out trying to get Scott Boland to deep third. In the second innings, when India was struggling to save the game, he took a long jump straight to wide. Both firings left fans and experts shaking their heads.

Rohit’s honest take on pants

Rohit looked like a captain torn between frustration and understanding. “It just happened; “We haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet,” he said. “But yes, he needs to find out what is required of him, not only for himself, but for the team.”

Rohit did not deny that Pant’s style has brought India success before. “As a captain, it is complicated. You know your approach has worked in the past, but when it doesn’t work, it frustrates everyone. It’s about finding that balance. You need to understand the situation: when to take a risk and when not to.”

Gavaskar criticizes Pant’s choices

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar was not so forgiving. He was quite vocal about Pant’s decision-making, especially in the first innings. “That scoop? Completely unnecessary,” Gavaskar said after the match. “You have 28 runs and you waste them like that? “It is not acceptable.”

Pant’s dismissal in the second innings hurt even more. He had just built a solid partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and it looked like India could hold out for an equaliser. But one bad shot later, and it was all downhill.

Why Gill was left out

Rohit also spoke about why Shubman Gill did not play. Turns out it wasn’t about his shape. “I had a chat with him,” Rohit said. “They didn’t let him fall. We just needed to strengthen our bowling attack without ruining the batting depth.”

The team brought in an all-rounder, pushing KL Rahul to the No. 3 spot while Rohit opened the innings. It was a gamble that did not pay off as India struggled to find consistency in their batting line-up.

Looking towards Sydney

This defeat means India cannot win the series, but there is still one match left. The final test in Sydney, which begins on January 3, is a chance for the team to regain some pride.

As for Pant, the spotlight will be on him again. Will he be able to adapt his game to the situation? For Rohit, it is about finding the right balance, not just for Pant but for the entire team.

Australia, on the other hand, will be at the top. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy already in their pocket, they will look to close the series on a strong note.

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