R Ashwin calls Rishabh Pant the best Test batter he has seen — but says his shot selection keeps costing India

Rishabh Pant's batting has once again become a talking point, this time courtesy of former India spinner R Ashwin, who offered a striking mix of admiration and frustration after the wicketkeeper-batter's latest innings. Pant struck a fluent 81 during India's crushing one-off Test win over Afghanistan in Mullanpur.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin went as far as to label Pant the best Test batter he has ever seen, an enormous compliment from one of the finest minds the modern game has produced.

Yet in the same breath, he expressed clear disappointment at Pant's tendency to surrender promising starts, arguing that the left-hander is leaving an extraordinary record unfulfilled.

High Praise From a Respected Voice

Ashwin left no doubt about his regard for Pant's natural talent.

In his assessment, no Test batter he has watched has possessed quite the same blend of timing, control and presence at the crease.

Coming from a bowler who tormented some of the best players in the world for over a decade, the verdict carried significant weight.

Defence Fit for the Greats

The former off-spinner reserved special praise for Pant's defensive game, suggesting it is good enough to impress even the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.

He spoke of how comfortably Pant absorbs deliveries, with the ball seemingly struggling to beat his bat regardless of the pace it is bowled at.

According to Ashwin, the sheer amount of time the batter has to play his shots sets him apart from his peers.

The Flip Side of the Verdict

For all the glowing words, Ashwin was equally direct about where he believes Pant falls short.

His central concern was Pant's repeated failure to convert starts into the kind of big scores his ability deserves.

It was a critique delivered not out of malice, but from a desire to see a special player make the most of his gifts.

The Dismissal That Triggered the Discussion

The latest example came in the Afghanistan Test, where Pant had looked well set on 81.

He fell while attempting to step out and attack Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, only to sky the ball to Azmatullah Omarzai at long-off.

For Ashwin, throwing away a position of comfort with such a shot was difficult to comprehend.

A Recurring Pattern in the 80s and 90s

The spinner pointed out that Pant has been dismissed on several occasions while in the 80s and 90s.

He described playing an ambitious stroke when already past 80 as baffling, questioning why the batter could not simply bat on for another 20 runs to reach three figures.

In his view, these lapses have occasionally cost India at important moments.

The Runs Left on the Table

Ashwin argued that the gap between Pant's talent and his statistics is largely self-inflicted.

Had the wicketkeeper-batter converted even a handful of his many scores in the 80s into centuries, his numbers would look remarkable.

It is that unrealised potential, more than any technical flaw, that appears to trouble the former spinner.

A Plea for Greater Responsibility

With Pant now a senior figure who has featured in more than 50 Tests, Ashwin called for a greater sense of responsibility.

He suggested that all batters make mistakes, but that the frequency of Pant's errors, particularly after being warned about them, is what disappoints him.

The message was that an experienced player should more often bat according to the situation and the needs of the team.

The Argument for Percentage Cricket

Central to Ashwin's reasoning was the idea that Test cricket rewards low-risk, high-percentage shots.

He explained that a sound option is one with a strong likelihood of success, rather than an attempt to clear fielders on the boundary.

In his eyes, the discipline to choose the right shot is what separates good Test batting from reckless strokeplay.

Natural Game Versus Match Awareness

Ashwin also addressed the common defence that aggression is simply part of Pant's natural game.

He countered that, in the longer format, a batter's natural game should be built around playing the percentages.

The challenge, he implied, is for Pant to channel his attacking instincts without gifting his wicket away.

Pant's Innings in Context

Despite the criticism, Pant's contribution was a valuable one for India.

His 81 came from 121 balls and included six fours and three sixes, with the left-hander sharing a substantial partnership with captain Shubman Gill, who made 126.

Pant came in after centuries from KL Rahul and a fluent 81 from Sai Sudharsan had already laid a commanding platform.

A Welcome Return to Form

The knock also carried added significance given Pant's recent struggles.

He had endured a disappointing season in the IPL, making this a timely reminder of his quality in red-ball cricket.

Even an innings that ended in frustration represented a step in the right direction for the wicketkeeper-batter.

Built on India's Record Victory

The wider story was one of total dominance from the hosts.

India romped to a win by an innings and 300 runs, their largest ever victory in the format, with debutant Manav Suthar starring through his maiden six-wicket haul.

Pant's runs formed part of an imposing first-innings total that left Afghanistan with no way back.

A Debate Set to Rumble On

The conversation around Pant's approach is unlikely to fade any time soon.

Supporters will argue that his fearless style is precisely what makes him such a dangerous and entertaining cricketer.

Critics, like Ashwin, will continue to push for the consistency that could elevate him into an all-time great.

Key Numbers

• Player in Focus: Rishabh Pant
• Latest Score: 81 off 121 balls (six fours, three sixes)
• How He Fell: Caught at long-off attempting a big shot
• Partner in the Stand: Captain Shubman Gill, who made 126
• Match Result: India won by an innings and 300 runs
• Verdict From Ashwin: The best Test batter he has seen, but one who must convert starts

Final Word

Ashwin's comments captured the fascinating contradiction at the heart of Rishabh Pant's career.

Few batters possess his combination of talent and match-winning flair, yet few divide opinion quite so sharply over their decision-making.

If Pant can marry his obvious gifts with greater discipline, he may yet silence the doubts and fulfil the enormous potential that even his critics readily acknowledge.