[Watch] “Paki hui ball…” – Rishabh Pant’s stump mic moment with KL Rahul

Heading into Day 4 of the Headingley Test against England, India pinned their hopes on overnight batters Shubman Gill and KL Rahul to steady the ship and erase England’s lead. But the morning couldn’t have started on a worse note for the visitors. In the very first over of the day, Brydon Carse bowled a sharp delivery that sneaked through Gill’s defence and sent him back to the pavilion without adding to his overnight score. With that early blow, India’s middle order was exposed almost immediately, and vice-captain Rishabh Pant was forced to walk in under pressure once again.

Pant, who had entertained fans with a century in the first innings, looked far from settled this time. He appeared edgy and restless, taking unnecessary risks and going for adventurous aerial shots that left the dressing room and fans holding their breath.Pant escaped by sheer luck at least once, an attempt at a sweep shot so mistimed the ball found a fielder with barely enough power left to float out of reach on the wind. It appeared this intention to get on with things had not changed but the timing and state of the match dictated otherwise.
This reckless streak did not go unnoticed. Commentating on air, former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik didn’t hold back in his criticism. He stressed that Pant needed to understand the “bigger picture”  putting the team’s needs ahead of his natural instinct to attack. Karthik pointed out that rather than telling Pant to curb his shots outright, KL Rahul and the team management should guide him to find a balance, reminding him that their goal was to build a partnership, reach lunch safely, and get India to a respectable total above 200 or 220.

Watch the Video:

RISHABH PANT TO KL RAHUL:

- "Paki hui ball, Itna Tamiz khelne ke chakkar me chut rahi hai". 😂😀pic.twitter.com/nYTvC1etKi

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 23, 2025

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Karthik even gave an interesting perspective shared by Cheteshwar Pujara, who said that asking Pant to be overly cautious is counterproductive because it reins in the wilderness in his batting that makes him him. Rather, he offered, the message had to be firm but not too rigid give Pant the freedom to play his shot-filled game, but with a grasp that preserving his wicket was as important, perhaps even more so, for India’s survival in a hard-fought Test match.

As India attempts to claw back in this Headingley Test, much of the spotlight will be on how Rishabh Pant deals with such pressure cooker moments from here on in. Fans adore him because of his fearless batting, but moments like these reinforce just how thin the line is between being bold and reckless. If he can strike the right balance, Pant has all the tools to be India’s match-winner even on the most treacherous of pitches.