'I’ve only one request..' - Former Indian player urges Rishabh Pant to skip such celebration ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 2nd Test

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Rishabh Pant for his exceptional performance in the first Test against England at Leeds, where the wicketkeeper-batter struck centuries in both innings. Despite Pant’s heroics, India lost the game by five wickets. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin made an interesting comparison, saying that Pant should be measured alongside elite top-order batters like Virat Kohli rather than former captain MS Dhoni, who never batted as high as No. 5 in Tests.

“… Rishabh Pant should be compared with the likes of Virat Kohli… He is a mainstream batter. Because he has so much time… some of these special batters have that knack of picking the ball early. They pick the line quickly, pick the length quickly, and they get into lovely positions. Rishabh Pant is one of those rare players who has got that special skill,” Ashwin said. The spinner also made a light-hearted appeal to Pant regarding his signature celebration, adding, “I’ve only one request: please don’t do that front flip. In Tests, your body gets tired, unlike in IPL where you will not play more than 50–60 balls. He is a bona fide top batter in the Indian lineup. So he has nothing to prove.”

Pant’s twin centuries were historic, making him only the second designated wicketkeeper in the history of Test cricket to score centuries in both innings. The first was Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, who scored 142 & 199* against South Africa in Harare in 2001. Ashwin lauded Pant's shot-making ability and his temperament but urged him to convert those knocks into even bigger contributions in the future.

Ashwin Urges Pant to Stretch His Innings Further

“Rishabh has had a fabulous game as a batter. But I would like to repeat that Rishabh has a great defense. There is not one shot in the book that he cannot play…” said Ashwin. He suggested that Pant, given his potential and form, should look to convert his centuries into double hundreds in Tests.

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“Can I request you to make a double 100 next time when you’re batting at 130? Because, you know that lower order doesn’t mean more contribution. So, in your situation, I request you to please take the team to the last day,” Ashwin said, stressing Pant’s importance in steering the team to safety in the longer format.