Melbourne/IBNS: Former Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar was infuriated at the commentary box after wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was dismissed aiming to play his trademark unorthodox shot at a time India were staring at a follow-on against Australia in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on Saturday.

Pant, who is known for his unorthodox cricket, was playing innovative shots even on day three of the match, which was heavily tilted towards the hosts.

The wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed by Scott Boland for 28.

Fuming at Pant, Gavaskar said during his radio stint on ABC Sport, "Stupid, stupid, STUPID... That is throwing away your wicket... Not in the situation India was. You have to understand the situation as well.

"You cannot say that that's your natural game. I'm sorry. That is not your natural game. That is a stupid shot. That is letting your team down badly."

Meanwhile, Nitish Reddy's stoic batting and an appropriate support from the other end by Washington Sundar helped India to fight back against Australia in the fourth Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Reddy, who had scored 40s earlier in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, slammed his maiden Test fifty and extended his innings to go past 80.

At tea, which was called after play was stopped due to rain, India scored 326-7 with Reddy remaining unbeaten at 85 from 119 balls while Sundar was at the crease with his 40.

Though the duo have managed to rescue India from a disaster, Reddy and Sundar are well aware that their job is far from being over against Australia's mighty 474.