Dhawan Supports Pant After Poor Keeping In Mohali

The Men in Blue were humbled back-to-back on their home soil by the Aussies. First India lost in Ranchi and then in Mohali. As a result the series is now 2-2 and the decider will be played on March 13 in Delhi.

Australia recorded their highest-ever run chase by chasing down 358. A brilliant century from Peter Handscomb and a superb finish from Ashton Turner turned the match in Australia’s favour.

Previously India’s Shikhar Dhawan (143) and Rohit Sharma (95) played extremely well. But the management left out the dew factor. Later in the match heavy dew caused the spinners difficulty in gripping the ball. Moreover dropped catches and missed stumpings led to India’s demise.

Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni was rested in the match. In his place the keeping job was entrusted to youngster Rishabh Pant. However his keeping came under question as he dropped catches and missed two stumpings.

Pant looked extremely uncomfortable while keeping under pressure. The incidents happened in the 44th over of the Aussie innings. Pant missed Turner’s stumping when the latter was batting on 38. Turner went on to play a match-defining innings of 84 from just 43 balls.

Two balls later he tried to attempt a flick to make Alex Carey run out. However he missed the stumps and conceded one run. Things escalated when he pressured Kohli to take DRS against Turner. The on-field not out decision stayed and India lost the review. Things were so bad that the home crowd started booing Pant and shouted chants of Dhoni.

Here is the video of Pant’s mistakes:

https://twitter.com/Vidshots1/status/1104775666812243968

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Dhawan talks in favour of Pant

However the entire team was behind Pant even after his horrendous blunder. In an interview, Dhawan totally defended the young wicket-keeper.

Dhawan said, “Rishabh is a young bloke and like any other youngster, you have to give time to him. Rishabh is still finding his feet. You cannot compare Pant to Dhoni [bhai], given the experience he has having played over the years.”

Dhawan also acknowledged that the stumping would have changed the game. He said that it was the final in the coffin of India’s defeat. Dhawan also blamed the management in failing to read the dew factor. The management thought that there will be no dew in Mohali and hence opted to bat first.