Ashwin's Blunt Assessment of Pant's Batting Approach
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a sharp critique of Rishabh Pant's batting methodology in the wake of India's devastating 408-run defeat against South Africa in the second Test match. This significant loss completed a 0-2 home series whitewash for the Indian team, marking one of the national squad's most disappointing performances in recent memory.
Speaking candidly on his popular YouTube show 'Ash ki Baat,' Ashwin acknowledged Pant's exceptional natural talent but expressed serious concerns about the wicketkeeper-batsman's decision-making during crucial match situations. The veteran spinner revealed that Pant's batting often caused anxiety among teammates in the dressing room due to his unpredictable shot selection.
"My Heartbeat Used to Go Fast" - Ashwin's Dressing Room Revelation
"My heartbeat used to go fast in the dressing room when Rishabh Pant batted," Ashwin confessed during his analysis. "He has a superb game and solid defence technique, so I always wonder why he would get out to shots like these. I will still maintain he is a very good player, and the day he embraces responsibility, things can start changing dramatically. I don't deny the X-factor he brings to the game."
Ashwin drew an interesting parallel between Pant's approach and former New Zealand batter Nathan Astle's legendary double-century in Christchurch. However, he emphasized that such exceptional innings shouldn't be used to justify aggressive batting in every match situation. "Astle once smashed 200-odd runs, but he didn't play the same way in every Test match," Ashwin noted. "Similarly, batters cannot play identically every time. I have communicated this in the dressing room, but real change can only happen when the player himself realizes it."
Leadership Magnifies Responsibility: Ashwin's Captaincy Warning
The criticism carries additional weight given Pant's recent leadership role. The young wicketkeeper captained the side in the absence of injured Shubman Gill, but endured a personally disappointing series with just 49 runs accumulated across four innings. Ashwin stressed that captaincy demands greater accountability, stating "If you are a captain today, ten others will follow in your footsteps. Responsibility is an absolute must."
Beyond individual performances, Ashwin expressed profound disappointment with India's overall display during the Test series. The seasoned cricketer revealed that the defeat itself didn't hurt as much as the team's apparent lack of fighting spirit. He believed the Guwahati pitch provided adequate Test match conditions and felt India should have at least pushed the game into the final session.
"I wasn't sad about losing the Test match, but there was no visible fight from our side," Ashwin lamented. "In the dressing room, every individual should raise their hand and take personal accountability for their performance."
The former spinner concluded with a realistic assessment of the current Test squad's development stage, noting that the team remains "way behind in terms of experience" and will require considerable time to evolve into a competitive unit at the international level.
