Rishabh Pant, the standout batsman and wicketkeeper for Team India, recently imitated Sunil Gavaskar’s well-known “Stupid, Stupid, Stupid” tirade in advance of the 2025 Indian Premier League. The video of Pant trying to mimic the famous cricketer’s remarks went viral very fast.
The initial incident happened during the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). On Day 3, even though Australian pacer Scott Boland was positioned in the deep, Pant tried his famous scoop shot. The lead edge from the shot gave Nathan Lyon an easy catch at third man, ending a vital 32-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.
In the fourth innings, the southpaw made the same error, creating a collapse with a needless pull shot off part-time bowler Travis Head. India, who had a chance to draw the Test, suffered a heartbreaking loss after losing seven wickets in a single session. When Gavaskar was on commentary at the moment, he vented his fury by criticizing Pant’s strategy and labeling his shot selection “stupid.”
“Impetuous, foolish, ridiculous! Even though there are two fielders there, you still aim for that. You missed the last shot, and now you’re in trouble. Your wicket is being thrown away in that way. You can’t claim that’s your inherent skill. Sorry. Your game is not naturally that way. It’s an idiotic shot. This is seriously disappointing your team. During his analysis on ABC Sport, Gavaskar stated, “You also need to comprehend the situation.”
During a photo shoot, Pant imitated the famous batter’s remarks. He mimicked the tirade in the video, but soon he laughed at his own attempt.
Rishabh Pant Instagram Story
-Stupid Stupid Stupid pic.twitter.com/pGR3Pw42fn
— RP17 Gang™ (@RP17Gang) March 17, 2025
A space where people may come and express themselves is what we hope to create: Rishabh Pant
It is noteworthy that Pant rose to become the most costly player in IPL history. He cost an incredible INR 27 crore to acquire from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The hefty bid prevented him from being retained by his previous squad, the Delhi Capitals (DC). A video that LSG recently shared showed Pant speaking to his teammates and stressing the value of fostering togetherness within the team.
“The gang seems to have a lot of experience. Because we have so many older players, I believe the management has a great deal of experience. Allow your experience to permeate the younger group by continuing to share it with the younger males. Creating a space where people can come and express themselves is what we seek. It takes a great deal of work from each and every person, therefore it’s easier said than done. It’s not only the administration. The players, in my opinion, are to blame. It is an environment we can build. I always believed that players could excel at any level if you supported them and trusted them enough,” Pant said to his fellow LSG players.