R Ashwin praises Rishabh Pant’s defensive dominance in Test cricket

Indian player 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 bowled Pant extensively in practice sessions, believes the left-hander possesses one of the best defensive techniques in the game today.

Pant’s defense: an underrated asset

While Rishabh Pant is famous for his aggressive batting and bold shots, his defense often goes unnoticed. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Pant 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 risky single shot off Scott Boland, Pant fell narrowly as India struggled at 195 for 5.

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar called the shot a bad decision and called it “stupid”. However, Ashwin took a different stance. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ashwin defended Pant’s approach and offered a strong statement.

“We must realize that Rishabh Pant rarely comes out while defending. They have one of the best defenses in world cricket. Defense has become challenging and plays with soft hands. I will change my name if someone can show me Pant coming out while defending 10 times,” Ashwin said.

A tale of two blows in Sydney

Pant’s performance during the Sydney Test highlighted his resilience. In the first innings, he scored a valiant 40 runs, absorbing more than 10 body blows during his stay at the crease. While this knock went unnoticed, it laid the foundation for his match-saving 61-run knock in the second innings, which drew widespread praise.

Ashwin pointed out that Test cricket is about fighting in difficult conditions. “Trying cricket is never easy and you have to fight. In Sydney, Pant played two contrasting knocks. He scored 40 runs in the first innings and took blows to the body. They were his least talked about entries, and that’s unfair. Everyone forgot that knock and only praised his fifty in the second innings,” Ashwin added.

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What makes Pant’s defense special?

Ashwin, who has bowled Pant extensively in the nets, shared his insights on the goalkeeper’s defensive technique. According to Ashwin, Pant rarely tops deliveries or gets trapped LBW while defending. Its ability to handle pace and spin alike makes it a valuable asset in challenging conditions.

“I have bowled a lot in the nets. He doesn’t defend, he doesn’t attack and he doesn’t get LBW. It has the best defense. One opinion about Rishabh was that he takes a lot of shots but also has a strong defensive game,” Ashwin said.

The change in Test cricket batting trends

Ashwin also shed light on how batting has evolved over the years. He highlighted that batting averages in Test cricket have declined 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 Williamson and Steve Smith have settled in well. Rishabh Pant has played in these difficult times and his contributions must be recognised,” Ashwin said.

Room for improvement

Despite his praise, Ashwin believes Pant has not fully realized his potential. He emphasized that the team management must provide clear instructions to Pant about his role in the team.

“We need to tell him clearly what the team expects from him. Whether he is hitting solidly or with intent, he should know. He has a lot of free time and the ability to turn games around. He just needs to realize his full potential,” Ashwin concluded.

Rishabh Pant has played 43 Test matches so far, scoring 2,948 runs at an average of 42.11 and a strike rate of 73.62. His fearless approach has made him a key player in India’s Test setup, especially in overseas conditions. With Ashwin’s strong backing, Pant will likely continue to evolve and solidify his reputation as one of the most impactful wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world.

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