Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently slammed wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, who scored 168 runs in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The 28-year-old also became the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in the longest format of the game.

Ashwin and journalist Vimal Kumar got into an animated chat while discussing about Pant. The 39-year-old was heard saying, “I love Pant as a player, but I have to ask a question. When you can speak about all the games India have won because of him, you should also take into account the matches India have lost as well. Batting in Test cricket is different to that in the white-ball formats.”

Ashwin added, “My expectations with Rishabh haven’t been fulfilled. Sonal Dinusha’s strike-rate was also on the higher side, but the biggest difference was the risk-taking options.” When Ashwin was reminded of the knocks played by the Indian star in Australia, the former spin legend said, “Pant played well in Sydney (159*) and Brisbane (89*), but then we couldn’t have won the game without Sundar and Shardul’s contribution. It takes 11 players to win a Test, but takes only one moment of foolishness to lose a game.”

Vimal Kumar then asked the former CSK star why the same logic wasn’t used while speaking about greats like Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist. To which R. Ashwin said, “Both the names you mentioned did play an attacking brand of cricket, but no one danced down the track while chasing a huge total and edged the ball. They didn’t get dismissed by Kagiso Rabada in Centurion after stepping down to the bowler and getting caught.”

Indian legend calls out Rishabh Pant’s decision-making

The veteran scribe then highlighted Rishabh Pant’s batting style. “That’s fine, but don’t place such marketing lines in front of me again. I want to watch Sooryavanshi bat, and Shubman Gill bat. Even Yashasvi Jaiswal is a rare talent. The shot he played in Australia and got out was wrong. Are you going to win the game with such a shot?

“All I am saying is Pant is experienced and has played more than 50 Tests. He has to show more responsibility in this team. It is because of his decision-making that he is not playing other formats. The day someone tells the truth to his face, he will not only play all the formats but also become a match-winner.”