Pant has played 8 ODIs, it's not his fault: Yuvraj backs young cricketer after Pietersen calls his dismissal 'pathetic'

Yuvraj Singh came to the rescue of under-fire Rishabh Pant after many cricket pundits, including former England star Kevin Pietersen, slammed the young batsman for his dismissal against New Zealand.

Pant - who came out to bat at the number four spot after the Indian top-order collapsed - got out to an extravagant shot to Mitchell Santner at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Chasing 240, India lost the match by 18 runs.

"How many times have we seen @RishabPant777 do that?????!!!!! The very reason he wasn't picked initially! Pathetic!," Pietersen tweeted after Pant's dismissal.

Coming to Pant's defence, Yuvraj replied, "He's played 8 ODIs! It's not his fault he will learn and get better it's not pathetic at all! However, we all are entitled to share our opinions."

Pietersen soon replied back to the former cricketer and tried to clarify what he meant. He wrote, "My criticism comes out of frustration because of how good he is, mate. He does it sooooo many times! Let’s hope he learns FAST!"

Yuvraj replied to the Tweet saying he agrees.

Indian captain Virat Kohli had also defended Pant after the match and believed that the immensely talented 21-year-old will learn from his mistake.

India were 71 for five when Pant got out. 

(Inputs from PTI)