Last Updated on 15 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his concern over Rishabh Pant’s batting style in Test cricket after India’s two-match series in Sri Lanka. Pant finished the series with 168 runs including two half centuries but his aggressive game and shot selection continued to be a talking point.
Ashwin felt Pant’s attacking nature needs to be tempered according to the situation of the match. “Pant’s potential and reputation as one of the most talented batters of his generation should not be sacrificed to make the right decisions for the team,” said the former India spinner.
Ashwin also referred to Pant’s dismissal in India’s Test against South Africa in Guwahati in 2025. India were already under pressure when Pant came down the track to Marco Jansen and was dismissed.
Ashwin used the incident to highlight his concern over Pant’s decision-making in tough situations. While Pant has often been praised for changing the course of a Test with his aggressive batting, Ashwin feels that being more aware of the match situation is important too.
ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin has doubts about the future of ODI cricket
Ashwin on Rishabh Pant: “Don’t place these marketing lines”
The former Indian off-spinner while speaking on his YouTube channel show ‘Ash Ki Baat’ said, “My expectation from Rishabh Pant hasn’t been fulfilled till now. I am very sorry. Sonal Dinusha had his strike rate up there. But the difference is high-risk options.
“When you have the game in your hand, these are all statements: ‘That’s how Rishabh plays.’ It is about what your team needs, Rishabh played a class knock in Sydney and Brisbane, but you couldn’t have won that match without Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. It takes 11 cricketers to build a Test and win it in the last session of the game, but it takes only 1 moment of foolishness to lose a Test.
“I am just talking about the times when these chances are being taken when the game is on the line. I love Rishabh the player. It is about playing situations in this format. Sehwag and Gilchrist played high brand of cricket, but these two don’t get edged out while dancing down to Marco Jansen when your team is trailing by 500 runs. Don’t place these marketing lines in front of me ever again,” he said.
Ashwin’s comments have further fueled the debate about how to manage Pant’s natural attacking game in Test cricket. The biggest strength of the wicketkeeper batter is his ability to play fearless cricket, but this approach keeps raising questions when it leads to unnecessary dismissals time and again.
📍Follow CricBlog for more such cricket news & updates
