Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday (February 14) urged the fans and experts to give wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant a “break” from constant comparisons.
Ever since Pant became a regular feature in India’s white-ball team post 2019 World Cup, he has been consistently compared with the legendary MS Dhoni and nowadays the 23-year-old is being compared with Wriddhiman Saha for his keeping skills.
“He was constantly compared with the great MS Dhoni for a long time. Now he gets compared for his wicket-keeping with (Wriddhiman) Saha, this that and all that, sometimes it’s just better to give a break and let people build on confidence,” Ashwin said at a virtual post-day press conference.
The seasoned campaigner was speaking at the end of the second day’s play in the second Test between India and England at Chepauk.
Commenting further on the swashbuckling wicketkeeper, Ashwin said, “With respect to Rishabh’s keeping, the name of the game is confidence right, he has been batting well, he has been working incredibly hard on his keeping as well…
“And sometimes, when you are constantly being compared to someone who has done well for years, it can be really hard, I really do feel for Rishabh, on a lot occasions, when I am watching games from home where he is playing the white-ball format.
“He has definitely got the ability, that is why he is here and I have no doubt he will go from strength to strength.”
Ashwin returned with the figures of 5/43 as India bowled out England for a paltry 134 to take a massive first-innings lead of 195 runs. It was his 29th five-wicket haul in the longest format of the game and he also became the first bowler to dismiss 200 left-handers in Test cricket.
“I can’t really remember how it all started, to be honest. Obviously the ball turning away from the left-hander is one very big advantage when it comes to off-spinners and likewise left-arm orthodox spinners also enjoy bowling to right-hand batsmen.
“So for me, over the years, the left-hand batsmen have generally tended to receive a lot of bowling from round the stumps, so one thing that I have learnt better and started doing a lot more is varying the seam position…
“… The point where I use the crease, went really wide to the middle to try and get as close as possible and also change over the stumps, over the stumps is one angle I have used effectively over the last 36 months,” Ashwin remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
