Ashwin Claims Rishabh Pant Has The Best Defense In The World & He Can Score Centuries Easily If….

Rishabh Pant is undoubtedly one of the most talented cricketers of present times but currently he is getting slammed for not playing responsibly in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 which India lost by 1-3.

The former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin praised the Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, calling his defense one of the best in world cricket. He believes Rishabh Pant can score centuries regularly if he balances his aggressive style with a more cautious approach. R Ashwin mentioned that Rishabh Pant has never been dismissed by him in the nets, not even edging or getting out LBW.

Pant has been in the spotlight recently after struggling in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he scored 255 runs at an average of 28.33, with a top score of 61 in Sydney. This was a dip compared to his impressive performances in the 2020-21 series, where his scores of 36 and 97 at the same venue helped India secure a crucial draw.

In his YouTube video, R Ashwin said, “I have always grown up hearing that you have to fight it out. In Sydney, he played two different knocks in one single game. He got hit everywhere and scored a 40, it will be the least spoken innings of Rishabh Pant. It is very unfair. In the second innings, he scored a swashbuckling fifty, earning him a lot of praise. Everyone forgot that first innings and praised him for the second knock.”

Ashwin further added, “We must realise that Rishabh Pant rarely gets out playing a defence. He’s got one of the best defences in world cricket. Defence has become a challenging aspect, he has the best defence with a soft hand. I have bowled to him a lot in the nets, he’s not gotten out, he doesn’t get an edge, he doesn’t get LBW, he has the best defence. I have tried telling it to him. One opinion about Rishabh was that he plays a lot of shots, he has to fight it out in Test cricket.”

R Ashwin defended Rishabh Pant, noting that the current era has been challenging for batters, even for players like Kane Williamson and Steve Smith. R Ashwin stated, “Test cricket is playing according to situation. In the last seven years, batting has become significantly difficult, from 2018 to 2025. But, in the WTC cycle, batting averages have decreased. Joe Root is in his own zone. Of course, Williamson… Smith has rediscovered again. What we realised is, Rishabh Pant has played in these times.”

He emphasised that India needs to guide Rishabh Pant clearly on his batting approach. Despite his average stats in Australia, Ashwin felt Pant was in good rhythm but failed to capitalise on his potential.

The former Indian spinner added, “We have to tell him properly what he has to do if he has to bat solid or bat with intent. He hasn’t scored a lot of runs, but he didn’t play like someone without runs. He has a lot of time on his hands. Rishabh Pant is yet to realise his fullest potential.”

Ashwin also stated, “He has all the shots — reverse sweep, slog sweep, everything — but the problem is that all these shots are high-risk shots. With his defence, 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. He has to find that middle game.”

If you wish to watch the video, click here

Rishabh Pant is currently in contention for India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, with the team announcement expected before January 12.

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