India keeper-batter Rishabh Pant is known for his quick wit and hilarious commentary while keeping wickets which is often caught on the stump mic. And now R Ashwin revealed another of Rishabh’s quips which came during the recent second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Team India registered a dramatic win in the second and final Test of the series against Bangladesh. Chasing a 145-run target, India was left reeling at 74/7 before R Ashwin (42*) and Shreyas Iyer (29*) eventually steered the visitors to a three-wicket win in Dhaka.
India had begun their chase pretty poorly as they lost four wickets during the final session of Day 3- KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli. India reacted by promoting Akshar Patel to no.4 after the wickets of Rahul and Pujara.
After Gill got out, Virat Kohli came out of the pavilion but fell for 1 run in 22 balls which led to Jaydev Unadkat coming out as night-watchman and he and Patel saw out the rest of the day’s play.
Ashwin has now revealed that as India was losing quick wickets, batting coach Vikram Rathour took turns to ask the batters if they needed a night-watchman. While Kohli refused, Rishabh Pant had a hilarious answer which left Ashwin in splits.
“Vikram Paaji asked Kohli whether he needed a night watchman. Kohli said that he will take care and didn't need a night-watchman. Rishabh Pant will usually keep the towel on top of his head and will lie down on the table. I don't know the exact reason for him doing that,” Ashwin said on his official YouTube channel.
Ashwin further mentioned that when Rathour told Pant that Kohli had denied a night-watchman, the keeper said do what you want to do, I will only bat tomorrow and if needed, send Ashwin or Unadkat before him.
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“Vikram Rathour asked 'Virat said he didn't need a night watchman. Do you need?". (Pant replied) ‘I need watchmen throughout the night. I will go and play tomorrow. I couldn't stop laughing when he said that casually. When I was extremely nervous, there he was relaxed and cracking a joke,” Ashwin said.
"Rathour Bhai was like, "We have only Jaydev Unadkat left. Who else should we send?" Pant was like, “Send Ash Bhai, or send whoever you want. I will go bat tomorrow,” Ashwin further added.
India won the Test by 3 wickets with R Ashwin getting the Player of the Match award and clinched the two-Test series 2-0.
