Ravichandran Ashwin hails Rishabh Pant, wants him to be compared with best batters in the world

Former Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has showered praise on Rishabh Pant amid the five-match Test series against England. Ashwin urged Pant to show resistance when the game situation demands it.

Pant is often compared with legendary Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist but Ashwin reckons the latter didn’t have a solid defense like the former.

Meanwhile, Pant returned with scores of 134 and 118 in the opening Test at Leeds, Headingley against England. The southpaw also scored an attacking knock of 65 runs off 58 balls in the second innings of the second Test.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “I would like to see Rishabh Pant achieve his potential. We want him to entertain us but he can do that and show restraint when needed. Pant is not a newbie anymore. I want to benchmark Pant to his standards.”

“He is a fabulous player. He is not Adam Gilchrist, many compare him to Gilchrist. He didn’t have such a good defence. Pant has a high-quality defence. He should be compared with some of the best batters, not Gilchrist. Rishabh Pant can do Pant things.”

On the other hand, Indian captain Shubman Gill scored a fantastic knock of 269 runs in the first innings at Edgbaston whereas he scored another fine knock of 161 runs in the second essay. Ashwin said the flamboyant batter should have scored 300 runs.

“He made a big score in the first innings. He almost got a 300, he should have got a 300. In the second innings, he did not throw away his wicket. His false shot percentage became nine from seven percent because he was playing a few more shots and there was unevenness in the wicket.”

“Shubman Gill was not playing for himself or for the team, he showed his teammates how one needs to bat in Test cricket,” Ashwin said.

The third Test match between India and England will be played at Lord’s, London from 10th July onwards.