Pant's Performance in the First Test Against England
Ravichandran Ashwin, ex-India spinner, complimented Rishabh Pant for his first Test match performance at Leeds against England. Pant got two centuries—134 in the first and 118 in the second. Ashwin said that Pant should try to convert these centuries into double centuries.
Pant had celebrated his century in the first innings with a somersault. Ashwin said this kind of celebration would be too dangerous during a Test match since the game is physically straining. He added that it was acceptable in the IPL, but in Test cricket, there has to be more caution. Pant had also done the same thing previously in IPL 2025 after he had scored a century against RCB.
Ashwin's Analysis of Team India's Strategy
Ashwin discussed India's overall strategy in the match. He had given his opinions on his YouTube channel after India's defeat in the first Test. According to him, batsmen need to focus more on remaining on the field longer rather than on simply scoring runs. That would tire England's bowlers and fielders gradually.
He suggested that India must not overcompensate for the loss. No drastic changes need to be made to the playing XI. Ashwin is of the opinion that India can win the second Test and draw level in the series if they just know England's plan clearly.
Concentrate on Batting Till the Fifth Day
Ashwin stressed the importance of batting deep into the match. He said India must bat until the fifth day to control the game. England has shown they can chase high targets on the final day, so India should reduce England’s time to bat and set a large target—ideally between 400 and 450 runs. He also noted that India should adjust their game based on the pitch conditions.
Comparison: Pant vs Kohli, Not Dhoni
Ashwin also spoke about comparisons between Rishabh Pant and former India captain MS Dhoni. "It is not fair to compare Pant to Dhoni because Pant does not bat at number five most of the times and does not have the same role," he said. "Comparing him to Virat Kohli would be a bit more reasonable because Pant is a batter first and has good technical skills.".
Ashwin complimented Pant's early reading of the line and length of the ball and playing newer shots. He described Pant as a unique talent with a long future in front of him. But he again made the same plea: Pant must not perform front flips after scoring. He reminded that the physical strain in IPL is less compared to Test cricket, and players need to take precautions.
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