Ravichandran Ashwin criticises Rishabh Pant's shot selection and decision-making

Ravi Ashwin and Rishabh Pant (File pic)

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns regarding Rishabh Pant's decision-making and shot selection during the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, stating that the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter has yet to fulfil the high expectations placed on him.

Although Pant accumulated 168 runs across the two-Test series, including a pair of half-centuries, his reckless aggression faced renewed criticism from Ashwin, who emphasised that a veteran of over 50 Tests must show greater situational awareness.

Expressing his candid thoughts on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin insisted that Pant's natural playing style should not serve as an excuse when matches hang in the balance.

"My expectation from Rishabh Pant hasn't been fulfilled till now. I am very sorry. Sonal Dinusha had his strike rate up there. But the difference is high-risk options. When you have the game in your hand, these are all statements: 'That's how Rishabh plays.' It is about what your team needs," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.

"Rishabh played a class knock in Sydney and Brisbane, but you couldn't have won that match without Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. It takes 11 cricketers to build a Test and win it in the last session of the game, but it takes only one moment of foolishness to lose a Test," he said.

Ashwin plays down Rishabh Pant comparison

Ashwin, who stepped away from international cricket last year, firmly dismissed comparisons between Pant and aggressive Test icons like Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist. He argued that those legends managed their high-tempo cricket without taking reckless options during perilous match situations.

"I am just talking about the times when these chances are being taken when the game is on the line. I love Rishabh the player. It is about playing situations in this format," he said.

"Virender Sehwag and Gilchrist played a high brand of cricket, but these two don't get edged out while dancing down to Marco Jansen when your team is trailing by 500 runs. Don't place these marketing lines in front of me ever again."

"I love Rishabh the player," he said, while insisting that the wicketkeeper-batter must learn to distinguish between playing his natural game and playing what the situation demands in Test cricket.