Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian off-spinner, recently praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his defensive technique during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy of 2024-25. Despite facing criticism for his inconsistent performance in the series, Pant’s defensive skills have not gone unnoticed.
Pant, who scored 255 runs at an average of 28.33 in the series, showcased his versatility in the final Test at Sydney. Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, highlighted Pant’s defensive abilities and emphasized the importance of balancing defense and attack in Test cricket.
“We must realize that Rishabh Pant rarely gets out playing a defense. He’s got one of the best defenses in world cricket. Defense has become a challenging aspect, he has the best defense with a soft hand,” Ashwin said. He also mentioned that Pant’s first-inning 40 in Sydney went unnoticed amidst his second-inning blitz.
Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, played alongside Pant in Team India for several years. Despite Pant’s impressive Test numbers, Ashwin believes that the young batter is yet to realize his fullest potential.
“Pant has all the shots—reverse sweep, slog sweep, everything—but the problem is that all these shots are high-risk shots. With his defense, he will surely score runs every game if he faces 200 balls. The point is finding that middle game. If he combines all of it, he will score 100 runs every game,” Ashwin concluded.
Pant, known for his aggressive style of play, has been criticized for throwing away his wicket with rash shots. Ashwin urged Pant to work on finding the right balance between solid defense and attacking intent to unlock his true potential as a top-order batsman.
As Pant continues to evolve as a cricketer, fans and experts alike will be keen to see how he adapts his game to fulfill the expectations set for him as one of India’s most promising talents in the current era of cricket.
