Rishabh Pant has been facing non-stop criticism from the last couple of months. Ever since the debacle of Men in Blue at the World Cup, earlier this year, Rishabh Pant is under the scanner.
Trollers and cricket pundits are leaving no stone unturned to criticize his performance and selectors for picking him up in the squad. Even when he misses a chance, the audience starts shouting MS Dhoni’s name in the ground.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B02IGFzni2f/
Ahead of the match, Virat Kohli had thrown his weight behind struggling wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. He urged everyone to follow suit and give some space to Rishabh Pant. He said:had made an appeal to the Indian cricket fans to give some time to young Rishabh Pant. He had said:
“We certainly believe in Rishabh’s ability. But I think it’s a collective responsibility of everyone around as well to give that player some space to do well. If he misses a chance, people can’t shout MS’ (Dhoni) name in the stadium as well. It’s not respectful because no player would like that to happen. You are playing in your own country and you should get support rather than always thinking about what mistake this guy is gonna make. No one wants to be in that position.”
He added:
“As Rohit (Sharma) pointed out this as well, he needs to be left alone. He is a match-winner and once he comes good we will see a different version of him which we have seen in the IPL where is he free, relaxed and he feels there is a lot more respect coming for his abilities and what he can achieve in the team. He needs to feel that more around him and he can’t be isolated to an extent that he gets nervous on the field. All of us need to make him feel like he belongs and we are all for him rather than against him.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B50hU3iJAb-/
However, despite his request, the crowd in Thiruvananthapuram made sure to make Pant feel bad about his place in the team by chanting the names of MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson during the second T20I. The Indian skipper was absolutely furious with the turn of events. Virat went on to express his displeasure to the crowd.
It was in the fourth ball of 5th over of the match, when Rishabh Pant failed to hold on to an edge from Evin Lewis. However, the ball popped out of his hand after he landed on the ground. And as soon as this happened, the crowd started chanting Dhoni’s name, much to Kohli’s surprise. Virat Kohli then turned his face towards the fans and expressed his displeasure over the reaction.
Here, watch the video:
https://twitter.com/PRINCE3758458/status/1203883065233137664
Check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Virat Kohli’s reaction when crowd were booing Rishabh Pant.
pic.twitter.com/TVpzHWoqaB
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 8, 2019
Nobody will say anything ?#INDvWI #INDvsWI #ViratKohli #Virat #RishabhPant#SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/YuKldNnefg
— विनय ?? (@imvinay_09) December 9, 2019
I’ve got mixed feelings about this.
Virat Kohli was not really happy with Trivandrum crowd yesterday as they kept on cheering for Sanju Samson, everytime Rishabh Pant messed up on the field.
This is a video of an irritated Virat urging the crowd to cheer for India. pic.twitter.com/SJ4fAWGWPk
— Korah Abraham (@thekorahabraham) December 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/Ajith31978113/status/1203940406750150656?s=20
Virat Kohli’s reaction when crowd were booing Rishabh Pant.
— CricketWithLove ?? (@cricket_widlove) December 8, 2019
