Rishabh Pant continues to perform below expectations: Ashwin frustrated with Indian star

Rishabh Pant’s numbers from India’s tour of Sri Lanka may indicate a productive two-Test series, but former India pacer Ravichandran Ashwin believes the wicketkeeper-batsman still has room for improvement. Ashwin questioned Pant’s decision-making, urging him to put the demands of the match ahead of his reputation as an ultra-aggressive player.

Pant scored 168 runs in two Tests, including two half-centuries, but his stroke selection remained a topic. Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat that Pant’s performances so far have not been up to the standards he expects from an established Test player.

SL vs IND 2nd Test Day 5: Highlights

“My expectations from Rishabh Pant have not been fulfilled so far. I am very sorry. Sonal Dinusha had his strike rate at the top. But the difference is the high-risk options. When you have the game in hand, it is all statements, ‘This is how Rishabh plays.’ It’s about what your team needs,” Ashwin said.

The former India spinner was particularly critical of the argument that Pant should be allowed to play without being challenged because of his unique style and impact. Ashwin believes that Test cricket requires a sharper reading of the match situation, especially when the stakes are high.

“Rishabh played a class knock in Sydney and Brisbane, but without Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, you couldn’t have won that match. It takes 11 cricketers to build a Test and win it in the last over, but it only takes one moment of stupidity to lose a Test,” he added.

Ashwin’s broader argument is that Pant’s talent is not in doubt, but how he applies it may determine whether he becomes consistently decisive in all conditions. He also dismissed the idea that Pant’s aggressive approach should be considered out of control simply because he has produced memorable innings in the past.

RISHABH PANT’S MIXED SL Vs. IND PERFORMANCE

Pant’s 168 runs included a half-century, but his Sri Lankan campaign also suffered a late blow when he was injured after being hit on the wrist by Lahiru Kumara in Colombo. He returned to the crease on Day 2 and immediately sparked an aggressive response, including a six.

However, Ashwin feels that Pant needs to become more responsible in situations where the team needs stability rather than an attacking gamble.

“I’m just talking about the times when those chances are taken when the game is on the line. I love Rishabh players. It’s about playing situations in this format,” he said.

“Don’t give one player special treatment. This player supports once in a generation, then give it to everyone. Jaiswal is also such a player. All I’m saying Rishabhu is he’s experienced, he’s played 50 Tests. He has to take responsibility.”

Ashwin also drew comparisons with Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist, two of Test cricket’s most devastating attacking batsmen, and argued that aggression still needs to be shaped by the situation.

“The day you tell him the truth, he will be an all-format player for India,” Ashwin said.

INDIA’S WTC TASK IS HARDER

India emerged from Sri Lanka with a 1-0 series win after winning the Galle Test, but a drawn match in Colombo cost them the chance of another two-Test win. Their remaining World Test Championship campaign now takes on greater significance as they look to achieve enough results to qualify for the finals.

India’s next WTC mission will come to New Zealand ahead of the five-Test series against Australia. The pressure on the side will only increase as the competition progresses, so Ashwin’s call for greater situational awareness is particularly relevant for older players like Pant.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

28 Aug 2026 11:55 IST