Ravichandran Ashwin praised Rishabh Pant and said that the next time the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-bitter should be seen for the dual century.
India should focus on extending its batting time and Rishabh Pant should convert hundreds of its hundreds of England in double centuries against England’s “average” England attack in the ongoing Test series, Senior Off-Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about the loss of his five-cickets in the lung-opener in the team’s lids.
Despite five centuries from its batsmen in both innings, India allowed England to pursue their second highest target of 371 to gain a 0–1 lead in the five-match series.
Ashwin said on his Youtube channel ‘Ash Ki Butt’, “One thing that can focus on the batting of the Indian team is in every innings, can you increase your batting over time – not by run. Increase the amount of England’s fielding and increase it at the time you keep them on the field.”
“I would say one thing is not nervous and it changes a lot. India can level the series in the next test. But if we do not understand that they are using England, then this series can get away from us very well.”
Appreciating the twin centuries by the pants, Ashwin said that it was not appropriate to compare Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as the latter never batted in the position of high number 5. “Rishabh Pant should be compared to Virat Kohli’s choice … he is a mainstream batsman. Because he has got so much time,” he said.
Ashwin compared the ability to take a delivery with Pakistani great Inzam-ul-Haq. “Some of these special batsmen have a habit of lifting the ball quickly. They quickly choose the line, choose the length quickly and they reach the cute positions. Rishabh Pant is one of the rare players who have received special skills,” he said.
As a rare achievement on the twin centuries of the pants, Ashwin suggested that the wicketkeeper-botter should look at the efforts.
“Rishabh has a great game as a batsman. But I would like to reiterate that Rishabh has got a great defense. The book does not have a shot that he cannot play. Can I request you to make a double 100 next time you are batting at 130?
He specially requested pants to avoid his famous front flip in tests. “I have only made a request, please don’t do that front flip. In tests, your body gets tired of the opposite in the IPL where you will not play more than 50-60 balls. He has a top top batter in the Indian lineup. So he has nothing to prove.”
