Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on Rishabh Pant’s growth as a Test cricketer. He said that the wicketkeeper-batter should be judged on his own standards and not be compared to others like Adam Gilchrist.
Pant's performances in the ongoing Test series against England have added to his Test credentials. The left-hander created history at Headingley, scoring centuries in both innings. With that, he joined Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower as the only wicket-keeper to hit two hundreds in a Test match.
In the second Test at Edgbaston, he played a counter-attacking knock of 65 from just 58 balls in the second innings, setting the tone for India’s emphatic 336-run victory.
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Ravichandran Ashwin Draws the Line on Rishabh Pant’s Comparisons
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin praised Rishabh Pant’s ability to entertain with his attacking style but also pointed out that he is now an experienced player and should know when to control his instincts.
"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," Ashwin said as quoted on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin also asserted that Pant’s comparisons with Gilchrist are not fair as the former has a better defensive technique than the Aussie great.
"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," he added.
Shubman Gill’s Edgbaston Heroics Was a Lesson in Test Batting, Says Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin also praised Shubman Gill for his performance in the Edgbaston Test. The Indian captain scored 269 and 161 runs across both innings. Ashwin said Gill showed the rest of the team how to bat in Test cricket.
"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 concluded.
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