Ravi Ashwin, never one to shy away from an honest opinion or a clever observation, had a lot to say about Rishabh Pant’s recent heroics with the bat. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the veteran off-spinner praised Pant for his incredible attacking knock but also cheekily nudged him to aim higher quite literally. Ashwin's message was clear: Pant’s brilliance is unmatched, but with a little more patience, it could turn into something historic.

“If I was Gautam Gambhir, I would tell Rishabh Pant that the way you batted was outstanding,” Ashwin said. “It’s a blessing to have a batter like you. But also, can we please expect a 200 next time when you’re on 130? Because you know your lower order can’t contribute much.” It was part admiration, part constructive feedback and totally Ashwin.

Pant, who smashed a brilliant century in the Leeds Test, once again proved why he’s one of the most dangerous wicketkeeper-batters in world cricket. But like many times before, he got out before turning it into a double — something fans, and clearly teammates like Ashwin, feel he’s more than capable of doing.

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Turning 100s into 200s —A Challenge Only Pant Can Accept

Ashwin’s comment was more than just praise. It was a challenge. He knows how important Pant is in India’s new batting setup, especially now that the middle and lower order isn’t as strong as it once was. A double century from someone like Pant can shift a match and series in India’s favor.

And with Gambhir now at the helm of India’s coaching setup, Ashwin’s words may not be far from reality. If Pant can channel his aggression with a little more discipline, there’s no doubt that 200 is just a matter of time. As Ashwin rightly said players like Pant are rare blessings. It’s time to see how far that blessing can take Team India.