Rishabh Pant may have finished India’s recent Test series against Sri Lanka with two half-centuries, but former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes the wicketkeeper-batter still needs to improve one major part of his game—his decision-making.
Pant scored 168 runs in the two-Test series, which India won 1-0. However, Ashwin said he is not completely satisfied with Pant’s approach and argued that his aggressive style should not become an excuse for poor shot selection.
Ashwin Wants Pant to Read the Match Situation Better
Speaking on his show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said his expectations from Pant have not yet been fully met.
The former spinner made it clear that he is a fan of Pant and appreciates his match-winning ability. But according to him, the issue is not aggression itself—it is choosing the right moment to take risks.
Ashwin argued that when India are in a difficult position or when the match demands stability, Pant needs to take greater responsibility instead of relying only on his natural attacking instincts.
‘Don’t Use That Marketing Line Again’
During the discussion, the idea that Pant is a “once-in-a-generation” player also came under criticism from Ashwin.
He questioned why that label should automatically result in special treatment and said other talented Indian players deserve recognition as well. Ashwin’s broader point was that Pant is now an experienced Test cricketer and should be judged by the same standards of responsibility as other senior players.
Sehwag and Gilchrist Comparison Comes Under Scrutiny
Ashwin also addressed the frequent comparisons between Pant and two of cricket’s most destructive batters, Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist.
According to Ashwin, both Sehwag and Gilchrist played highly aggressive cricket, but their approach still depended on the situation. He suggested that simply calling Pant an attacking player should not justify every risky dismissal.
His comments came against the backdrop of continuing debate around Pant’s high-risk batting. Pant’s fearless approach has produced several memorable innings for India, but it has also regularly invited criticism when he has thrown away his wicket in important situations.
Pant Recently Surpassed Gilchrist in a Major Test Record
Interestingly, Pant’s latest series also saw him move past Adam Gilchrist on the list of most sixes in Test cricket.
During the Colombo Test against Sri Lanka, Pant went past Gilchrist’s tally of 100 Test sixes, strengthening his reputation as one of the most aggressive wicketkeeper-batters in modern cricket.
That achievement is exactly why the debate around Pant remains so interesting. His aggressive game can change the course of a match—but Ashwin believes the next stage of his development should be learning when to attack and when to consolidate.
Ashwin’s Message: Give Pant Honest Feedback
Ashwin’s argument was ultimately not about changing Pant into a defensive batter.
Instead, he wants the Indian star to receive honest feedback and develop into a more complete cricketer. Pant has already played more than 50 Tests, and Ashwin believes that experience should now translate into better judgement in crucial moments.
For Ashwin, Pant has all the talent required to become an even bigger force across formats. But he believes that will only happen when the conversation moves beyond the “once-in-a-generation” label and focuses on what the player can still improve.
