Former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim has sharply criticized Rishabh Pant for his reckless dismissal on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, labeling the shot as inexplicable and a failure of leadership. Pant, serving as stand-in captain, scored just 7 runs before edging a wild swing off pacer Marco Jansen to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne shortly after the tea break. Batting at a precarious 102 for 4, Pant's aggressive approach—aimed at countering the mounting pressure—backfired spectacularly, exacerbating India's first-innings collapse to 201 all out in 83.5 overs. Karim, speaking on ESPNcricinfo, expressed frustration over Pant's inability to adapt, emphasizing that the 28-year-old's experience demanded more composure in a high-stakes situation.

"You can't make any sense out of this. How do you explain this? It's very difficult," Karim remarked, suggesting it might be the first time in Pant's Test career he couldn't justify his actions. He urged Pant to lead by example through pressure absorption rather than high-risk plays, noting that such impulsiveness cornered the team further. While acknowledging Pant's natural flair, Karim stressed the importance of time at the crease before unleashing shots, especially as captain. The critique echoes broader concerns about Pant's shot selection in recent matches, where his aggression has yielded spectacular highs but also costly lows, particularly on pitches offering variable bounce like Guwahati's.

South Africa's dominance was underscored by Jansen's career-best 6 for 48, the third-best figures by a Proteas pacer in India, complemented by Simon Harmer's 3 for 64, which dismantled India's top order on either side of tea. Only opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 97) and lower-order fighter Washington Sundar (48 off 92) provided substantial resistance, with Kuldeep Yadav (19 off 134) adding grit in a 72-run eighth-wicket stand before the innings folded. The visitors, who posted 489 in their first innings for a 288-run lead, opted against enforcing the follow-on and reached 26 without loss in eight overs by stumps, with Aiden Markram (12 not out) and Ryan Rickelton (13 not out) at the crease. This leaves South Africa 314 runs ahead overall, firmly in control with two days remaining.

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The result intensifies scrutiny on India's batting frailties in the series, following their 30-run defeat in the opener in Kolkata, where South Africa clinched a thrilling victory. As the Proteas chase their first Test series win in India since 2000-01, Pant's future decisions—both tactical and personal—will be pivotal in any comeback bid. With the pitch showing increasing seam movement, India's second innings looms as a test of resilience, potentially forcing selectors to reassess the balance between boldness and batting stability in the World Test Championship cycle.

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