Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes Rishabh Pant's shot selection

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has criticized wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant regarding his shot selection and decision-making during India’s recent Test series against Sri Lanka. While Pant scored 168 runs across the two-match series, including two half-centuries, Ashwin argued that his aggressive approach often involves unnecessary risks that do not align with the team's needs during critical match junctures.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin stated that his expectations of Pant have not yet been fulfilled. He cautioned against using Pant’s flamboyant style as an excuse for poor decisions, noting that while players like Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist were aggressive, they played according to the match situation rather than taking high-risk shots when the game was on the line.

Ashwin also addressed the ‘once-in-a-generation’ label often applied to Pant, suggesting that such narratives should not result in special treatment or shield a player from accountability. He emphasized that Test cricket requires collective responsibility and that a single moment of foolishness can cost a team a match.