Rishabh Pant was not at his best in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25?

India’s 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign ended in disappointment as they conceded the series 3-1, marking the first loss to Australia in almost a decade. One of the standout performers for India, despite the team’s struggles, was Rishabh Pant, who finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for the side with 255 runs in nine innings. However, Pant’s performance in this series was in stark contrast to his heroic efforts in the 2020-21 tour, where he played a pivotal role in India’s historic series win Down Under. During a recent discussion, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar praised Pant's memorable performances during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his fearless batting and crucial knocks were instrumental in India's success.

Pant’s counter-attacking century in Brisbane, in particular, remains one of the defining moments of that series. However, Gavaskar also noted that Pant's performance in the 2024-25 edition was far from his best, and he failed to live up to the expectations in a series that had a lot at stake for India. While Pant’s contribution with the bat was significant, the inconsistency in his performances this time around drew criticism, especially when the team’s top-order failed to deliver. Gavaskar expressed that Pant, who had been a game-changer in the past, couldn’t replicate his past brilliance, leaving India to ponder over what went wrong.

"Yes, in the last tour that happened in 2020-21, he was the biggest difference. The way he batted in Sydney and Gabba, the Indian team was able to win the last series because of him only. The way he kept the Australian bowlers on the backfoot in Sydney and then in Brisbane, the expectations will definitely be there because if he has scored runs on such pitches. The thinking was that once he returned there, he should have scored good runs," said former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in a recent interview. 

Irfan Pathan came to Rishabh Pant's defense following the wicketkeeper-batter's underwhelming performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Pathan acknowledged that while Pant's contributions weren’t as impactful as during the 2020-21 tour, the 25-year-old had returned from a long injury layoff, which significantly impacted his rhythm. The former India all-rounder pointed out that despite the challenges of being out of action for an extended period, Pant gave his best, and his efforts shouldn’t be dismissed lightly.

Pathan also provided a tactical suggestion, emphasizing that India should consider batting Pant at No. 6, rather than No. 5, particularly in away Test matches. He argued that batting lower down the order would reduce the pressure on Pant and allow him to play with greater freedom. This position would also enable him to provide the much-needed impetus during the middle and lower order, rather than facing the pressure of anchoring the innings from the top. Pathan’s comments shed light on the factors influencing Pant’s performances and suggested a more suitable role for him in the Indian setup, especially in overseas conditions.

"The difference between coming to No. 5 from No. 6 on such pitches is that if you bat after keeping for 100 overs and two wickets fall early, which were consistently falling, you don't have time for recovery. That's why there was a discussion about whether Rishabh Pant should bat at No. 6 only, especially in overseas conditions. It's not only about technique; he has the technique. He put his body on the line in the first innings and in the second innings (in Sydney), he sent the ball over the line. He has the perfect game for No. 5, but I am thinking about recovery as a wicketkeeper-batter," stated Irfan Pathan.