Stop marketing lines in Test cricket: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed concern over Rishabh Pant’s approach in Test cricket following India’s two-match tour of Sri Lanka in August 2026. Pant accumulated 168 runs across the series, including two half-centuries, but his shot selection drew scrutiny from the veteran off-spinner. Ashwin’s comments highlight a broader debate about balancing aggressive batting with the demands of match situations in the longest format.

During the tour, Pant’s aggressive instincts came under examination as Ashwin questioned whether the wicketkeeper-batter was prioritising personal brand and attacking flair over the needs of the team. The off-spinner expressed frustration with the narrative that has built around Pant’s playing style and his status as a generational talent.

“My expectation from Rishabh Pant hasn’t been fulfilled till now. I am very sorry. Sonal Dinusha had his strike rate up there. But the difference is high-risk options. When you have the game in your hand, these are all statements: ‘That’s how Rishabh plays.’ It is about what your team needs,” Ashwin said on Ash ki Baat.

Ashwin’s expectations unfulfilled by Pant’s approach

Ashwin drew a distinction between Pant’s approach and the way other attacking batters have managed their aggression in Test cricket. He referenced Pant’s performances in Australia, where the wicketkeeper played significant innings in Sydney and Brisbane, but emphasised that individual brilliance cannot substitute for collective responsibility in the five-day format.

“Rishabh played a class knock in Sydney and Brisbane, but you couldn’t have won that match without Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. It takes 11 cricketers to build a Test and win it in the last session of the game, but it takes only 1 moment of foolishness to lose a Test,” Ashwin said.

Marketing narratives versus match reality

The veteran spinner pointed to a specific instance from the South Africa Test in Guwahati during 2025, when Pant was dismissed dancing down the track against Marco Jansen while India was in a difficult position. Ashwin used this moment to illustrate his broader concern about Pant’s decision-making in high-pressure situations and the gap between his talent and his application.

“I am just talking about the times when these chances are being taken when the game is on the line. I love Rishabh the player. It is about playing situations in this format. Sehwag and Gilchrist played high brand of cricket, but these two don’t get edged out while dancing down to Marco Jansen when your team is trailing by 500 runs. Don’t place these marketing lines in front of me ever again,” Ashwin said.

Accountability and format selection

Ashwin also addressed the special treatment Pant has received due to his status as a once-in-a-generation talent, arguing that such backing should be extended consistently across the squad. He noted that Yashasvi Jaiswal, another young player of exceptional promise, does not receive the same narrative protection, and that Pant’s experience of 50 Tests should translate into greater maturity in his decision-making.

“Don’t give one player special treatment. This once-in-a-generation player backing, then give it to everyone. Jaiswal is also such a player. All I’m saying, Rishabh, is that he is experienced; he has played 50 Tests,” Ashwin said.

“He needs to take responsibility. Don’t come up with this ‘once-in-a-generation’ argument. It is because of his decision-making that he’s not playing the other two formats. The day you tell him the truth, he will be an all-format player for India,” he added.

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