Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim strongly criticized wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his reckless dismissal during Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa on Monday, November 24. Serving as stand-in skipper, Pant scored only seven runs before attempting an aggressive swing off Marco Jansen that resulted in an edge to Kyle Verreynne. His dismissal came immediately after tea, following the crucial losses of Sai Sudharsan and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Karim expressed disappointment, stating that Pant's shot selection was inexplicable and lacked responsibility expected from a captain. India was bowled out for 201 runs in 83.5 overs. South Africa, holding a commanding 288-run first-innings lead, reached 26 without loss by stumps with openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram unbeaten. The hosts had previously won the first Test by 30 runs in Kolkata, strengthening their position in the series.
Karim Questions Pant's Leadership and Shot Selection
Saba Karim condemned the left-hander's approach, emphasizing that as captain, Pant needed to demonstrate responsibility and absorb pressure rather than play high-risk shots. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Karim remarked that Pant's dismissal was difficult to explain and unprecedented in his Test career. He acknowledged the importance of playing a natural game but stressed the need to spend time at the crease first. Karim argued that such reckless batting immediately after tea pushed India into a corner, making it extremely difficult for the team to recover. With South Africa negotiating eight overs safely and openers remaining unbeaten on 13 and 12 respectively, India faced a challenging situation heading into Day 4.
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