Ashwin Urges Pant to Aim for Double Centuries, Gambhir Remains Focused on Team Results

Former Indian off-spinner R Ashwin has urged Team India coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to mentor Rishabh Pant ahead of the second Test against England, scheduled to commence in Birmingham on July 2nd.

Rishabh Pant celebrates a century against England.

Pant showcased exceptional batting prowess in Leeds, notching centuries in both innings. Despite his stellar performance, India suffered a five-wicket defeat in the Test.

"Rishabh had a fabulous game as a batter. I would like to repeat that Rishabh has got a great defense. There is not a single shot in the book that he cannot play," Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.

Ashwin suggested that Pant should aim to convert his centuries into double centuries in future innings.

"I sometimes feel if I were Gautam Gambhir or Shubman Gill, I would take Rishabh Pant aside and say, ‘Bhai, tune kya batting kiya hai, kamaal ka batting kiya tune’ (Brother, you’ve batted brilliantly). I would love to be a batter with the kind of ability you have. But can I request you to make a double hundred next time when you're batting on 130?" said Ashwin.

"You know we won’t get much contribution from the lower order, so please take the team to the last wicket. But what a fabulous batsman, what a fabulous cricketer, what a talented player," he added.

However, India head coach Gautam Gambhir appeared reserved in his praise for individual brilliance, including Pant’s twin centuries. When questioned about the positives from the opening Test loss to England, he emphasized the importance of results, which his team failed to achieve.

Gambhir responded tersely to a question regarding Pant’s efforts, which ultimately did not secure a victory for India.

"There are three more centuries as well. Those are big positives too. Thank you," was his succinct reply.

When pressed further on the overall positives, Gambhir elaborated, "I would have liked if you said there was a hundred from Yashasvi (Jaiswal), a hundred from Shubman (Gill) on debut as captain, a hundred from KL (Rahul), and two centuries from Rishabh. So, five centuries in a Test match is a great start, to be honest. And hopefully, the question could have been better," he concluded.