Australia vs India: Ravi Shastri admits Rishabh Pant needs to bat sensibly

India finally managed to beat Australia in their won den after ten long years and it didn’t come easy. The hosts came ever so close of the 323-run target thanks to a superb resilience from Australia‘s bowling attack. The quartet which picked 20 wickets was up for a fight with the bat. However, when they were batting, one always felt only if India’s lower-order had played like them, Australia would’ve been chasing more than 350. Ravi Shastri also admitted the same and believed that the last four should’ve contributed more.

The Indian head coach though was of the opinion that wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant should’ve played more responsibly after smacking 18 runs off Nathan Lyon’s over in the second innings. He had forced Australia to set defensive fields with his assault. But then the youngster threw his wicket away by trying to take on the bowler despite the field being spread out.

Ravi Shastri, while speaking after the match, stressed on the importance of how one shouldn’t tell Pant to curb his attacking instincts but also felt that he should bat a tad sensibly as well. Rishabh Pant raced to 28 very quickly but he could’ve done more damage.

If he makes a mistake now, I will be in his ears

“You have to allow him to play his game, but he has to be a little more sensible now. He did the hard work in getting Lyon to spread his fields, so he has to be smarter. You make a mistake now, but don’t repeat it, then I’ll be in his ears,” India’s head coach said.

When asked about the bowlers, Shastri cleared that they need utmost rest now with Perth Test only four days away. It will be important for the visitors that their in-form pacers stay fresh throughout the series while the off-spinner Ravi Ashwin also looked tired in the end after sending down 53 overs in the second innings alone. His fitness will also be important as he has had his issues in the past.

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