Former Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised Rishabh Pant’s batting skills, calling him a player with a “superb game and defence.” However, Ashwin also expressed concern over Pant’s reckless shot selection, which often results in his dismissal. He believes that Pant has the potential to make a significant impact but needs to take more responsibility and exercise greater caution with his shots.
“My heartbeat used to go fast in the dressing room when Rishabh Pant batted. He has a superb game and defence, so I always wonder why he would get out to shots like these. I will still say he is a very good player, and the day he takes responsibility, things can start changing. I don't deny the X-factor he brings,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.
Ravichandran Ashwin urges Pant to embrace responsibility
“But he can't play the same way in every Test. I have said it in the dressing room, but it won’t change until he realises it. If you are a captain today, 10 others will follow in your footsteps. Responsibility is a must,” he added.
Pant was India’s stand-in skipper for the second Test against South Africa after regular captain Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a neck injury. However, Pant had a quiet series, scoring only 49 runs across four innings.
Ashwin expressed his disappointment with India’s overall performance, saying he wasn’t sad about the loss but disheartened by the lack of fight from the team. “I wasn’t sad about losing the Test, but there was no fight. This pitch was of Test quality. I would have been proud if they had taken it to the last session. A leader must take responsibility, but in the dressing room, everyone should raise their hand individually and own up to it,” he said.
He also highlighted the team’s lack of experience in Test cricket. “This team is still way behind in terms of experience and everything in Test cricket. Improvement will come, but it will take time,” Ashwin concluded.
This defeat marked India’s second home whitewash under head coach Gautam Gambhir, 0-3 against New Zealand last year and 0-2 versus South Africa now. For South Africa, it was their first Test series win in India since 2000, with Temba Bavuma becoming the latest skipper to lead the Proteas to a historic triumph.
