Rishabh Pant once again found himself in the spotlight after squandering a promising innings during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan. The wicketkeeper-batter seemed on track for a century but ended up with 81 in Mullanpur, adding to a troubling trend of missed chances in Test cricket. His dismissal sparked sharp criticism from former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who questioned Pant’s decision-making at a pivotal moment in the innings. Describing the shot selection as “mind-boggling,” Ashwin argued that a player of Pant’s caliber should be turning such starts into match-winning hundreds instead of giving away his wicket through unnecessary risks.
Ravichandra Ashwin, while giving his review on the test match in his YouTube channel said, “All batters make mistakes, but the amount of time he does it is disappointing.. He has played more than 50 Tests now, so he needs to start playing the situation for the team on many occasions.”
Fortunately for India, their innings win over Afghanistan meant that Pant’s dismissal didn’t impact the final outcome. Still, the way he got out once again brought to light a long-standing concern about his approach in red-ball cricket. While Pant is undoubtedly one of India’s most dynamic Test batters, Ashwin believes that a better understanding of the match situation could help him achieve an even greater level of consistency and success.
But Playing Such a Shot on 80 Is Mind-Boggling: Ravichandran Ashwin on Rishabh Pant’s Reckless Shot Selection Against Afghanistan
Rishabh Pant was in great form, having scored 81 runs, when he decided to take on Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi. Even with fielders positioned at long-off and long-on, he went for a big shot and ended up getting caught in the deep. This unfortunate dismissal left him just 19 runs shy of a well-deserved century.
Ashwin was clearly disappointed with Pant’s tactics while closing in on 100, as he said, “You’ve gotten out so many times in the 80s and 90s. It’s impossible to discover such a great Test batter. But playing such a shot on 80 is mind-boggling. Having come to 80, can’t you play for another 20 runs? He has cost India a few times through baffling shots at the wrong time. As a batter, he has to take that extra responsibility. If he had converted his multiple 80s to 100s, his stats would look unbelievable.”
Ashwin couldn’t hide his frustration over the decision, especially considering Pant’s tendency to get out after solid starts. Ashwin believes that a player of Pant’s talent should be able to push through and add those crucial extra 20 runs instead of taking unnecessary risks at such a critical moment.
Ravichandran Ashwin Questions Rishabh Pant’s ‘Game Awareness’
Ashwin’s critique went deeper than just one dismissal. He pointed out that Pant’s consistent failures in similar situations highlight a bigger problem with his game awareness. The former spinner remarked that after playing over 50 Test matches, Pant should have a better grasp of match conditions and what the team needs before opting for aggressive shots.
The stats back up Ashwin’s claims. Pant has been out for scores like 99 against New Zealand, 97 against Australia, 96 against Sri Lanka, 93 against Bangladesh, and 91 against England. Many of those innings had the potential to turn into centuries. Ashwin feels that these missed opportunities have held Pant’s record back from being even more remarkable.
Ravichandran Ashwin Urges Rishabh Pant to Opt for Better Shot Selection
While Ashwin had his reservations about the dismissal, he didn’t hold back in recognizing Pant’s incredible talent. He called him one of the best Test batters out there and commended his defensive technique, noting that he possesses both the time and skill to tackle any bowling attack.
Ashwin concluded by saying, “I’ve told him so many times that you’ve so much time to defend and can play whatever shot you want to. Why do you get yourself out? Many will say it’s his natural game. But the natural game is playing the percentages in Test cricket. A good percentage shot is knowing there is a 70% success rate. When you look to hit a ball over the fielders on the boundary, it’s not a percentage shot at all.”
Ashwin believes batters should opt for shots that have a higher likelihood of success instead of trying to clear boundary riders with risky strokes. In his opinion, Pant’s natural style doesn’t need a complete overhaul; it just requires a bit more discernment. For Ashwin, making smarter shot selections could be the key to helping Pant convert those promising innings into the big scores that his talent truly warrants.
