Rishabh Pant is certainly the backbone of India's batting in the longest format and the star wicketkeeper-batter has earned every bit of it. Rishabh Pant has played umpteen match-winning knocks for India in Tests. Over the course of 50 Test matches, the southpaw has amassed eight tons, cementing his status as one of the most impactful players of his generation. Defined by a fearless and aggressive approach, Pant possesses a rare ability to completely alter the course of a game within a matter of sessions, frequently rescuing his side from precarious situations.
Having come to 80, can't you play for another 20 runs?: Ashwin on Pant
But, this high-risk mindset has proven to be a double-edged sword, often drawing criticism from pundits and fans alike. Pant has frequently fallen just short of major personal milestones by throwing his wicket away in the 80s and 90s, showcasing a distinct indifference toward personal landmarks in favor of his natural, attacking style. While this unselfish philosophy has yielded far more success than failure over his career, there remain distinct occasions where his shot selection has put the team in a vulnerable position.
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A recent example of this occurred during India's one-off Test against Afghanistan, where Pant was dismissed for 81 after attempting a high-risk stroke. Although India was already in a commanding position and his dismissal did not ultimately impact the match's outcome, it reignited the debate surrounding his decision-making.
The dismissal prompted reaction from his former teammate, Ashwin, who pointed to the innings as a classic example of Pant repeating avoidable mistakes. While Ashwin readily acknowledged Pant's immense talent and status as a genuine match-winner, he expressed frustration over the keeper's recurring collapses in the 80s and 90s, suggesting that a bit more discipline could save both Pant and the team from unnecessary setbacks.
“You've got 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 said on his YouTube channel.
'All batters make mistakes, but the amount of time he does it is disappointing'
Ashwin went on to say that he is not okay with Pant repeating the same mistake over and over again and wants the star wicketkeeper-batter to play as per the situation, being a veteran of the game.
"All batters make mistakes, but the amount of time he does it is disappointing. Especially when so many have told you that it's a mistake and to still keep doing it, I am not okay with that. He has played more than 50 Tests now. So he needs to start playing the situation for the team on many occasions," he concluded.