"Stupid, stupid, stupid" is how Gavaskar describes Pant's choice of shots.

He claims that if Pant only plays "these shots," he ought to be batting lower than No. 5.

On the third morning of the MCG Test between Australia and India, Rishabh Pant was dismissed because to his unconventional stroke, which was criticized by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

After he and Ravindra Jadeja resumed India's reply from the overnight 164 for 5, Pant appeared fluid as he reached 28 off 37 balls. The two of them had almost completed the first hour of play. Pant tried to scoop from outside off to the leg side off Scott Boland at that point, but he gave deep third a simple catch off the leading edge.

"I think earlier on, when there had been no fielders around, that's when he's attempted these shots, that is understandable because you're taking a very good chance," Gavaskar stated before lunch on Star Sports. "That [the shot] was supposed to go to the leg side, that went to the off side, it actually tells you maybe [there was] a little bit of bad luck involved, but terrible selection of a shot to play at that particular point with two fielders down at deep square-leg and deep point."

In the 56th over, Pant had attempted the same hit off Boland, but he lost his balance and inside-edged it onto his body. The following ball, he hit the ground once more and made a marginally better connection, but he holed out to Nathan Lyon. Prior to his fall, India was 191 for 5, still behind 283, but as the day went on, they gained ground because to the efforts of Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Pant does use unconventional and aggressive shots to score many of his runs. Gavaskar noted that Pant ought to have been more cautious because there were two fielders waiting in the deep for just that kind of hit.

"It just appears to be that that's the only way he thinks he's capable of scoring runs," Gavaskar stated. Therefore, you can't always succeed at the Test level if he can't score runs the traditional way, if he's only thinking about getting down the pitch, pounding the ball over long-on, or just looking to play these shots. Then, you must be ready for the possibility that he will occasionally get you runs. If so,

During his live commentary on ABC Radio at the time of the dismissal, Gavaskar claimed that Pant had "thrown away" his wicket, letting India "down badly."

Gavaskar said, "Stupid, stupid, stupid," right away. "You missed the previous shot, yet you still go for that even though there are two fielders there. And see where you've been apprehended. They nabbed you at deep third man. That's a waste of your wicket. Not under India's circumstances. You can't claim that's your natural game; you also need to comprehend the circumstances. Sorry, but you're not naturally good at that. It's an idiotic shot. That is seriously disappointing your team.