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“You want to be all-format leader…”: Ashwin blasts Rishabh Pant for Guwahati Test defeat

Umesh Sharma

Ravichandran Ashwin and Rishabh Pant (Source: AFP) Ravichandran Ashwin and Rishabh Pant (Source: AFP) 

Team India under the captaincy of stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant, faced an embarrassing 408-run defeat against South Africa in the second and last Test of the two-match series. The team was bundled out at the score of just 140 runs in the Guwahati Test while chasing a mammoth target of 549 runs. 

Meanwhile, the former legendary India off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin came up with a ‘hard-and-fast-lined’ critical analysis while dissecting Pant’s leadership in the Guwahati Test. He also pointed towards the way Pant got dismissed off Marco Jansen in the first innings. 

Ashwin criticises Rishabh Pant citing ‘irressponsible’ approach

Ashwin also raised the questions on wicketkeeper-batter’s judgement, sense of responsibility and accountability. 

“[Rishabh] Pant is a solid batsman and we’ve spent years defending his style. But you’re the captain in that situation. You want to be a three-format leader? You can, you have the talent. But then you take a blind swing at Marco Jansen and get caught behind. Where is the accountability,” said Ashwin in a video on his YouTube channel. 

Furthermore, Ashwin went on to defend coach Gautam Gambhir saying: “a coach can’t hold the bat and walk out there for you.” 

Speaking of India’s miserable outings in the recently concluded two-match Test series against South Africa, they lost both the games, facing another Test whitewash within just 13 months. SA defeated the hosts by 30 runs in the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, followed by a mammoth 408-run win in Guwahati.

This series defeat has thrown the coach Gautam Gambhir and team management in an all-cornered criticism. The criticism of Gambhir and Co. has also been harsh. India didn’t lose any home series from 2012 to 2024 before he took over as the head coach of the side. 

Now, the Men in Blue under the captaincy of stand-in skipper, KL Rahul, will take on the Proteas in the upcoming three-match ODI series. The series opener will be played at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium in Ranchi.