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Rishabh Pant Mentally Broke Down, Detached Himself From Everyone After 'Stupid' MCG Shot

Sakshi Sharma

Rishabh Pant (Source:@RishabhPant17,x.com)Rishabh Pant (Source:@RishabhPant17,x.com)

Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant has endured one of sthe most emotionally phases of his cricketing career. The tough time included public criticism, professional failure, and personal introspection. The worst point came during the Melbourne Test against Australia, where Pant attempted an ill-advised ramp shot in the first innings, only to lose his wicket at a critical moment.

What followed was a brutal takedown by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who repeatedly called Pant’s shot "stupid, stupid, stupid" during live commentary. The video clip went viral, and so did the outrage, sparking a torrent of online criticism that proved too much for the 27-year-old to ignore.

Pant's Mental Strain And Bold Break

According to a TOI report, the harsh scrutiny drove Pant into a state of mental exhaustion. In March 2025, shortly after the Australian tour and India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, Pant made a drastic decision. The star player uninstalled WhatsApp and switched off his phone, seeking to cut himself off from all distractions, negativity, and online chatter.

He reportedly kept his phone off for extended periods, using it only when necessary to contact close friends or family. Those close to the team described Pant as being deeply ashamed and emotionally shaken. 

Despite being part of India’s Champions Trophy-winning squad under Rohit Sharma, Pant did not play a single match in the tournament. Instead of sulking, he channelled his frustration into a rigorous fitness routine. Former Team India strength and conditioning coach Sohum Desai shed light on Pant’s transformation.

“He did the most intense sessions day in and day out. He dragged me into the gym whenever he was free. He didn't care about fatigue or work-loaded programmes. All he said was he needed to keep working on himself. On the day of the final, he came to me with some kind of guilt in his mind and asked if he could take the day off. I said it was high time that he did,” Desai told Times of India.

Pant Roars Back With Twin Tons

Then came the first Test against England at Headingley and Rishabh Pant responded in emphatic fashion. He smashed 134 in the first innings and followed it up with 118 in the second, becoming only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. 

With the Headingley double, Pant now holds the record for the most Test hundreds by a designated Indian wicketkeeper, overtaking MS Dhoni’s tally of six centuries.