Sunil Gavaskar gives Rishabh Pant a stern warning: 'Display more respect, regardless of your position'

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has issued a firm caution to Rishabh Pant, emphasizing the importance of respecting the bowlers during the crucial first half-hour of play. The talented wicketkeeper-batter has faced challenges with his batting performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, accumulating just 96 runs across five innings. As the pressure mounts for him to deliver a significant score in the upcoming Tests at the MCG and SCG, Pant's struggles—without a single fifty in the series—highlight his difficulties against the swinging ball, a challenge that has also plagued several of his Indian teammates in the initial three Tests.

Pant often looks to take on the bowlers right from the start, which can also be seen in this series, but Gavaskar advised him to take a little bit of time and respect the situation before switching to his naturally aggressive game.

"What Rishabh Pant has to do, like everybody else, respect the first half an hour; respect a little bit when he gets in there, whatever the position, unless, of course, India is 525 for 3; then he can tee off," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

The 27-year-old has managed scores of 37, 1, 21, 28, and 9 in his five innings across three Tests.

Pant, who famously scripted a match-winning knock at the Gabba in 2021, has shown flashes of brilliance in the first innings of Perth and then in pink-ball Test at Adelaide but he failed to convert the starts into big scores.

"...they get the ball to angle across. Pat Cummins and even (Josh) Hazlewood give him a little bit of a problem; Scott Boland will give him a little bit of a problem because Boland bowls around that area as well," he added.

'Haven't seen some counter-punching efforts from Rishabh Pant': Hayden

Australian legend Matthew Hayden, a self-confessed admirer of Pant, urged the Indian batter to embrace his fearless approach, saying it could be a game-changer for the visitors.

"I have always been a fan of his. He's kind of a different cheese; there is no doubt about it. And I would like to just see him explore that as well because he should be coming in a situation where, as I mentioned before, there are lots of runs; and if so, that's a perfect scenario for him to be (in).

"But it's also the perfect scenario for Team India. A little bit like Rohit Sharma, I think we haven't seen some counter-punching efforts from Rishabh, but he should have no fear in these conditions. I think in the absence of fear comes a great opportunity for Rishabh and Team India," said Hayden.

India will face Australia in the third Test at the MCG starting December 26.

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