Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned Rishabh Pant’s for his reckless strokeplay in the second Test match against South Africa. After the tea break on the third day’s play, the stand-in Indian captain advanced down the track against Marco Jansen but could only manage an outside edge to the wicket-keeper, Kyle Verreynne.
India was 105-4 at that stage after the hosts had conceded 489 runs in the first innings and the match situation was not suited for that kind of an aggressive shot.
Ashwin said Pant doesn’t need to play too many attacking shots as he has a superb game and defence.
Ashwin said on YouTube Channel, “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. Nathan Astle once smashed 200 odd runs in Christchurch.”
The former Indian all-rounder questioned Pant’s approach and said batters can not bat in a similar way in all Test matches.
“But he didn’t play the same way in every Test after that. Similarly, batters cannot play the same way every time. I have said it in the dressing room but it cannot change until he realizes it. If you are a captain today, 10 others will follow your footsteps. So, responsibility is a must,” he added.
Meanwhile, India lost the remaining eight wickets in less than two sessions on the final day and Ashwin said he would have been happy if India had shown the fight to take the game deep and then lost.
“Ravi Shastri used to say, ‘You need to have that ticker.’ But not everyone has that. I wasn’t sad about losing the Test but there was no fight. This pitch was also of Test quality. I would’ve been happy had they taken it to the last session and lost. I understand a leader should take responsibility but in the dressing room, everyone should raise their hands individually and take that accountability.”
“Only then, the improvement will come. I will still say this team is way behind in terms of experience and everything in Test cricket. It will take time for this time to go up,” he added.
India’s next Test series is against Sri Lanka in August 2026.
