Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared his strong opinion on Rishabh Pant's defensive skills in Test cricket, dismissing the criticism the wicketkeeper-batsman has often faced. Ashwin, who has played a lot with Pant in practice sessions, believes the left-hander possesses one of the best defensive techniques in the game today.
Pants Protection: An Underrated Asset
While Rishabh Pant is noted for his aggressive batting and bold batting, his defense often flies under the radar. In the Frontier Trophy-Gavaskar 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 dangerous shot from Scott Boland, Pant fell cheaply when INDIA were struggling at 195 for 5.
The cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar labeled the strike a poor decision, calling it downright “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 out while 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 my name if someone can show me Pant coming out defending 10 times,” Ashwin said.
A tale of two strikes in Sydney
Pant's performance during the Sydney Test highlighted his consistency. In the first innings, he scored a hefty 40 runs, absorbing over 10 body blows during his stay at the crease. While this knock went largely unnoticed, it laid the foundation for his economical knock of 61 runs in the second innings, which drew widespread praise.
Ashwin noted that Test cricket is all about battling it out in tough conditions. “Test cricket is never easy and you have to fight it. In Sydney, Pant played two opposite knocks. He scored 40 runs in the first innings and took body blows. It was his least talked about speeches, and that's unfair. Everyone forgot that knock and only praised his second fifty,” Ashwin added.
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What makes protective pants special?
Ashwin, who has played Pant extensively in the nets, shared his insights on the wicketkeeper's defensive technique. According to Ashwin, Pant rarely bowls deliveries or gets trapped LBW while defending. His ability to handle pace and spin alike makes him a valuable asset in challenging conditions.
“I have played many goals in the nets. He doesn't come out defending, he doesn't edge, and he doesn't get LBW. He has the best defense. One thought about Rishabh was that he plays a lot of shots but he also has a strong defensive game,” Ashwin said.
Shift in batting trends of test cricket
Ashwin also shed light on how batting has evolved over the years. He pointed out that batting averages in Test cricket have decreased 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 are well adapted. Rishabh Pant has played in these challenging times and his contributions should be appreciated,” Ashwin said.
Room for Improvement
Despite his accolades, Ashwin believes Pant has not fully realized his potential. He stressed that the team management should give clear instructions to Pant regarding his role in the team.
“We have to show him clearly what the team expects from him. If it is bumping hard or on purpose, he needs to know. He has a lot of time on his hands and the ability to turn games around. He just needs to realize his full potential,” concluded Ashwin.
Rishabh Pant has played 43 Test matches so far, scoring 2,948 runs at an average of 42.11 with a strike rate of 73.62. His fearless approach has made him a key player in India's Test set-up, especially in overseas conditions. With the strong support of Ashwin, Pant is likely to continue to develop and strengthen his reputation as one of the most influential wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world.
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