Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared his strong opinion on Rishabh Pant’s defensive abilities in Test cricket, dismissing the criticism the wicketkeeper-batsman has often faced. Ashwin, who bowled a lot to Pant in training sessions, believes the left-hander possesses one of the best defensive techniques in the game today.
Pant’s defense: an underrated asset
While Rishabh Pant is celebrated for his aggressive batting and bold shooting, his defense often flies under the radar. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Vs AustraliaPant scored 255 runs at an average of 28.33. However, his dismissal in the first innings of the Melbourne Test drew harsh criticism. Attempting a risky dismissal of Scott Boland, Pant fell cheaply India they were struggling at 195 for 5.
A cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar he labeled the goal a poor decision, calling it completely “stupid”. However, Ashwin took a different stand. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ashwin defended Pant’s approach and offered a strong statement.
“We have to understand that Rishabh Pant rarely gets away with defending. He has one of the best defenses in world cricket. Defense has become a challenging aspect, and he plays with soft hands. I will change the name if someone can show me how Pant gets out while defending 10 runs,” said Ashwin.
A tale of two strikes in Sydney
Pant’s performance during the Sydney Test highlighted his resilience. He scored a blistering 40 runs in the first innings, absorbing more than 10 body blows during his stay at the crease. Although this knock went largely unnoticed, it laid the foundation for his match-saving knock of 61 runs in the second innings, which drew widespread praise.
Ashwin pointed out that Test cricket is about fighting in tough conditions. “Test cricket is never easy and you have to fight. In Sydney, Pant played two opposite shots. He scored 40 runs in the first innings and took body blows. Those were the least talked about changes of his, and that’s unfair. Everyone forgot that knock and just praised his second innings fifty,” added Ashwin.
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What makes Pant’s defense special?
Ashwin, who often bowled Panta in the nets, shared his insights on the wicketkeeper’s defensive technique. According to Ashwin, Pant rarely overpowers deliveries or gets trapped LBW while defending. Its ability to hold pace and spin in equal measure makes it a valuable asset in challenging conditions.
“I threw the ball into his net a lot. He doesn’t come out on defense, he doesn’t sharpen up and he doesn’t get LBW. He has the best defense. One opinion about Rishabh is that he plays a lot of shots but also has a strong defensive game,” Ashwin observed.
Change in batting trends in Test cricket
Ashwin also shed light on how batting has evolved over the years. He pointed out that batting averages in Test cricket have fallen between 2018 and 2025, making it crucial for players to adapt.
“From 2018 to 2025, batting averages have decreased significantly. Players like Joe Root, Kane Williamsonand Steve Smith they have adapted well. Rishabh Pant has played in these challenging times and should be recognized for his contribution,” Ashwin said.
Room for improvement
Despite his praise, Ashwin believes Pant has not fully realized his potential. He emphasized that the team management must give Pant clear instructions about his role in the team.
“We have to clearly tell him what the team expects from him. Whether he hits hard or with intent, he should know. He has a lot of time on his hands and the ability to turn a game around. He just needs to realize his full potential,” Ashwin concluded.
Rishabh Pant has played 43 Test matches so far, scoring 2948 runs at an average of 42.11 with a strike rate of 73.62. His fearless approach has made him a key player in the Indian Test set-up, especially in overseas conditions. With Ashwin’s strong support, Pant is likely to continue to develop and cement his reputation as one of the most influential wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world.
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