"Rishabh doesn't like to bat in the last 20-30 minutes" - Former India cricketer's interesting revelation in ENG vs IND 2025 3rd Test

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared a backstage story about Rishabh Pant. Ashwin, from his YouTube channel, claimed that the keeper-batter did not like to bat during the closing moments of a day’s play in Test cricket.

To solidify his claims, Ashwin attached a backstage story related to Rishab Pant’s preferences. The former recalled that it was a Test match between India and Bangladesh in 2022. The match was in a crucial position. India suddenly lost a few wickets while chasing a target of 145 runs. According to batting position, it was Pant’s turn to go out on the ground with the bat. It was the last few minutes of the day’s play. The keeper approached the then head coach of Team India, Rahul Dravid, not to send him in the middle at that time. So, the management decided to promote Axar Patel and Jaydev Unadkat to do his batting job instead of Rishabh.

“After a couple of wickets fell, Rishabh told Rahul Bhai, 'Main nahi jaa raha hoon aaj raat.' Half an hour or 45 minutes was still left at the time, but he said he would not go and went inside. Axar Patel and Jaydev Unadkat were sent in after wickets fell. Rishabh doesn't like to bat in the last 20-30 minutes," R Ashwin revealed in one of his YouTube channel's 'Ash ki Baat' episodes.

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Akash Deep came instead of Pant

Notably, the incident back in 2022 and the ongoing England vs. India Test match at Lord’s have a similarity. Pant, now the vice-captain of India’s Test setup, mostly came to bat at number 5. But, during the closing hours of Day 4, while India was chasing a target of 192 and lost 4 wickets, Pant did not appear in the field to do his batting job at number five. Instead, the left-handed team promoted Akash Deep in the batting order to act as the night watchman. India needs 135 runs to score on Day 5 to win the match against England. Ashwin is eagerly waiting to see Rishabh Pant’s batting under pressure.

“I was about to tweet that 'Rishabh is not going to walk out in the last 20 minutes.' He is not always ready to come in. India was chasing an impossible score at Gabba; they were looking at a 360-odd chase. Rishabh came out and played his game and took the bowlers to the cleaners. Gabba's pride was broken; that is all fine. But with the skill Rishabh has, I want to watch how he handles the pressure tomorrow because this test is not about making runs or playing shots,” Ashwin added.