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“Rishabh Pant Is Not Gilchrist…” Ashwin Says Pant Has ‘Better Defense’ Amid ENG Series

Aakash Saini

R Ashwin and Rishabh Pant [Source: AP Photos and @mufaddal_vohra/x]R Ashwin and Rishabh Pant [Source: AP Photos and @mufaddal_vohra/x]

Rishabh Pant has earned a significant praise from former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin amid the ongoing Test series against England. Ashwin also urged fans to stop comparing Pant with former wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, claiming that the Indian cricketer is even better than Australia’s multi–World Cup winner in some aspects of the game.

As Team India gears up for the all-important third Test of the series against England at Lord’s, Ashwin also shared a crucial advice for the stumper while citing Shubman Gill’s example.

Ashwin Says ‘Pant Shouldn’t Bat Like Shubman’

Ahead of India’s third Test against England at Lord’s, former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin said he wants to benchmark Rishabh Pant as per his own standards instead of comparing him with former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist. He even claimed that Pant has a better defensive technique than Gilchrist, and the legendary Australian had a slightly different role than the Indian cricketer.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said:

“I want to benchmark Rishabh Pant as per standard of Rishabh Pant. He is a fabulous player. He is not Adam Gilchrist. Many people compare him with Adam Gilchrist. Adam Gilchrist didn’t have this good defense. 

Rishabh Pant has a high quality of defense. Rishabh Pant should be compared with some of the best batters not to be compared with Adam Gilchrist. Adam Gilchrist is a fine batter. He was a very good glove man who took games away batting at seven. Rishabh Pant is batting at number five. Rishabh Pant can do Pant things.”

Ravichandran Ashwin also added that Rishabh Pant should have some kind of constraint in his batting, without playing like captain Shubman Gill. Ashwin urged Pant to not keep falling in Shoaib Bashir or other spinner’s trap by launching the ball exactly where it is asking to be hit. He said:

“I don’t want Rishabh Pant to play like Shubman Gill. But I want that constraint and restraint from Rishabh. When you cast a fishing net, the fish also knows that it’s a risk, but why does it come because there is a bait. 

Rishabh Pant then bats and what Shoaib Bashir does, he throws it outside, he keeps long on behind. I want to see Rishabh hit, I also want that entertainment, but I also want him to make a fool of the bowler. You know what’s the plan, his mind is in the plan."


"Don’t get trapped. Hit something else. Like Ravi bhai said, if you don’t have the field for reverse sweep, then hit there. Don’t go into a trap. I really want that. I want to see Rishabh Pant batting on 143 and how he is making a 200. If Rishabh Pant bats like that, India can declare the innings at any time.”

Rishabh Pant Continues Prolific Run

Rishabh Pant has already accumulated 342 runs in the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match series against England at a prolific average of 85.50. The cricketer started off the series with twin hundreds in Leeds, before whacking a 58-ball 65 in the second Indian innings in Birmingham.

With series now levelled at 1-1, Rishabh Pant and the rest of his Indian teammates will now turn up against England at Lord’s from July 10 onwards.