Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli walk free while Gautam Gambhir & Co. blast Rishabh Pant after MCG disaster

India's defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test has raised a lot of questions for them. The Men in Blue are under tremendous pressure as they need to win the next match in order to finish the series on even terms.

However, shocking news is coming out regarding three players who were heavily criticized after India's defeat in Melbourne. The three players are Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant.

All these players didn't have a particularly good outing in the match and thus, they faced criticism from all the corners. While the poor form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continued, Rishabh Pant was out playing poor shots when his team needed him the most.

Also read: BCCI official confirms Gautam Gambhir’s sacking on cards, exposes behind-the-scenes tensions

Nothing said to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: Reports

According to RevSportz's Rohit Juglan, nothing was said to the top two senior players in the team - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. When the whole team was criticized for their poor shot selection in the match, it also included the bad shots of Rohit and Kohli.

There have been talks about the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after their recent form. However, the Indian team management including Gautam Gambhir hasn't said anything to these two senior players.

Rohit Sharma was out in the second innings while trying to play a poor shot which wasn't needed at that stage. Rohit had looked solid till that point but tried to play an aggressive shot and was caught by Mitchell Marsh at gully for just 9 off 40 deliveries.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli was out in a typical fashion he has been dismissed over the course of his career. The 36-year-old tried to play a cover drive off the left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc but got an outside edge only to be caught by Usman Khawaja at first slip. Kohli was dismissed for just 5 off 29 balls.

Rishabh Pant faces the wrath for India's loss: Reports

The report also claims that the wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was heavily criticized by the team management and faced the wrath for India's defeat. Pant was slammed for his poor shot selection at a time when the team needed him the most.

Rishabh Pant has been criticized outside the Indian dressing room as well. A no. of former cricketers have blamed the timing of his shot selection and blamed him for the defeat. But some former cricketers like Michael Hussey came out in his favor and backed his ability to win games for his team from any situation.

Pant has been criticized to the extent that there have been talks to drop him as well. However, that is unlikely to happen since he has been India's best player in Tests for some time.

Rishabh Pant's untimely dismissal

Rishabh Pant tried to play a big shot off the part-timer Travis Head but was caught in the deep by Mitchell Marsh. He had played a defensive style of cricket till that point but looked solid as well. Pant and Jaiswal had been building a strong and patient partnership as India didn't lose any wickets in the second session.

However, he saw a half-tracker and couldn't stop himself from playing a big shot. The big boundaries at the MCG also played a part in his dismissal as he was dismissed for 30 off 104 balls.

His wicket was the turning point as it opened the floodgates for Australia. The hosts saw an opportunity and attacked the Indian batters with some impressive bowling. India lost seven wickets in the final session to lose the match.