Ravichandran Ashwin has always admired Rishabh Pant, and after Pant scored two centuries in the first Test against England in Leeds, he had a big request for Ashwin: to turn those hundreds into double centuries. Even with five centuries scored by the Indian batters, they let England chase down their second-highest target of 371, putting India behind 0-1 in the series.
Ashwin praised Pant’s achievements but said it’s not fair to compare him to MS Dhoni, since Dhoni never batted at the higher No. 5 position. He feels Pant should be compared with other top batsmen like Virat Kohli, emphasizing that he’s a key player in his own right.
When talking about Pant’s skills, Ashwin noted how he can read the fast bowlers well, saying, The way Rishabh picks the ball is impressive. He’s facing fast bowls, using a slog sweep, and even late scoops. It all happens because he has that extra time to play his shots. He recalled a story from the 1992 World Cup, where Imran Khan picked Inzamam-ul-Haq for his ability to bat in slow motion even against quick bowlers.
Ashwin commended Pant for his performance but encouraged him to aim for bigger scores in the future. He mentioned that Pant has a solid defense and can play all kinds of shots. He jokingly asked Pant to make that double century next time he’s at 130. You know, as a batter, it’s important to keep contributing to the team, he said.
Lastly, Ashwin had a light-hearted request for Pant to skip his front flips during Test matches. Just don’t do that front flip. Your body takes a beating in Tests, unlike in the IPL where you won’t have to face as many balls,” he said, reminding everyone that Pant is a top batter and has nothing left to prove.
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