Ashwin Urges Pant: Convert Centuries to Double Centuries in England Test Series

Former Indian off-spinner R Ashwin has made a surprising request to Rishabh Pant ahead of the second Test against England, urging him to convert his centuries into double centuries. The second Test is scheduled to begin on July 2 in Birmingham.

Rishabh Pant celebrates a century against England in Leeds.

Pant showcased exceptional form in Leeds, scoring centuries in both innings. However, his efforts weren't enough to secure a victory, as India lost the Test by five wickets.

Ashwin Praises Pant's Ability

"Rishabh had a fabulous game as a batter. I would like to repeat that Rishabh has got a great defence. There is not a single shot in the book that he cannot play," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.

The Call for Double Centuries

Ashwin's suggestion to Pant was clear: aim for double centuries after crossing the 100-run mark.

"I sometimes feel if I were Gautam Gambhir or Shubman Gill, I would take Rishabh Pant aside and say, ‘Bhai, tune kya batting kiya hai, kamaal ka batting kiya tune’ (Brother, you’ve batted brilliantly). I would love to be a batter with the kind of ability you have. But can I request you to make a double hundred next time when you're batting on 130?" said Ashwin.

He further added, "You know we won’t get much contribution from the lower order, so please take the team to the last wicket. But what a fabulous batsman, what a fabulous cricketer, what a talented player."

Gambhir's Perspective

India head coach Gautam Gambhir, in contrast, appeared less focused on individual performances. When questioned about the positives from the first Test loss, he emphasized the importance of results, which the team failed to achieve.

Gautam Gambhir's press conference after the Test loss.

Gambhir responded succinctly to a question about Pant's efforts: "There are three more centuries as well. Those are big positives too. Thank you."

When pressed further, Gambhir highlighted other centuries in the match, including those from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul, in addition to Pant's two centuries. He suggested that focusing on the collective achievement of five centuries in a Test match would be a more positive approach.