'What Your Team Needs’- Ravichandran Ashwin Questions Rishabh Pant’s Aggressive Batting During Sri Lanka Series

New Delhi, August 28: Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin criticized Rishabh Pant's nonchalant shot selection and decision-making on the field during the recent test match between India and Sri Lanka. According to Ashwin, the wicketkeeper-batsman did not meet the level demanded of him.

Rishabh Pant, who is getting active support from the India management, scored 168 runs in the two Test matches, including two half-centuries. But the problem is not the runs; rather, the approach with which he has been scoring runs. According to offie, he expects that Pant will be scoring runs more than a mere half-century.

"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," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.

Aggressive Approach Cannot Be Substitute For Poor Decision Making

While Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Rishabh Pant's attacking brand of cricket but warned that his aggressive approach cannot come at the cost of poor decision-making, especially when a Test match is hanging in the balance.

Ashwin, who retired from international cricket last year, pointed out that while Pant has produced several memorable innings, Test victories are built through collective contributions and can be undone by a single rash decision.

"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 one moment of foolishness to lose a Test," Ashwin said.

The former spinner also dismissed comparisons between Pant and two of Test cricket's most celebrated aggressive batters, Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist. While acknowledging their attacking style, Ashwin stressed that Pant needs to adapt his approach according to the match situation.

"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," he said.

"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."

Ashwin Urges Pant to Take Responsibility, Rejects 'Once-in-a-Generation' Shield

Ashwin was also critical of the argument that Pant should receive greater leeway because he is regarded as a "once-in-a-generation" talent. According to him, the same faith should be extended to other emerging Indian players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal.

"Don't give one player special treatment. This once-in-a-generation player backing, then give it to everyone. Jaiswal is also such a player," Ashwin said.

However, Ashwin believes Pant's experience means the wicketkeeper-batter must now take greater responsibility for his shot selection. Pant has already featured in 50 Tests, and Ashwin feels his decision-making remains the key area he needs to improve.

"All I'm saying, Rishabh, is that he is experienced; he has played 50 Tests. He needs to take responsibility. Don't come up with this 'once-in-a-generation' argument. It is because of his decision-making that he's not playing the other two formats. The day you tell him the truth, he will be an all-format player for India," he said.

Ashwin's comments came after Pant's 168-run performance against Sri Lanka, where he registered two fifties.

While there is little doubt about Pant's ability, Ashwin believes the wicketkeeper-batter needs to develop a better understanding of when to unleash his natural aggression and when to adjust his approach according to the demands of Test cricket. "I love Rishabh the player," Ashwin reiterated, while making it clear that playing one's natural game should not mean ignoring the match situation.