"Everyone underestimates Rishabh Pant"- Ravichandran Ashwin's fiery rant

India's veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hailed Rishabh Pant for his brilliant innings in the first Test between India and England at Chennai. Pant scored a counter-attacking 39 off 52 balls in the first innings and helped India breathe easy after three early wickets.

In the second innings, Pant was even better and went on to score his sixth Test hundred. His innings were full of breathtaking shots as he smashed Bangladesh's bowlers all around the ground.

The wicketkeeper-batter made a remarkable return to Test cricket as he scored 109 off 128 balls in the second innings. It was an innings of authority from Rishabh Pant who was playing his first Test since his life-threatening accident in December 2022.

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R Ashwin hails Rishabh Pant's brilliance in the Chennai Test

While speaking on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin hailed Rishabh Pant and revealed that he had predicted Pant to score a hundred in the second innings after his brief entertaining knock in the first innings.

"Not only did I like it, I had a good feeling when I saw Rishabh Pant's hundred. He played very well in 1st innings. When he played, I told Rohit (Sharma) 10 times, he plays so well. I don't know how he gets out and doesn't score sometimes," Ashwin said.

Ravichandran Aswin on Pant

"I had a good feeling when I saw Pant's 100.He played well in 1st inning.When he played I told Rohit,he plays so well, I don't know how he gets out and don't score sometimes. He is born for cricket. When everyone was getting beaten,he puts his legs… pic.twitter.com/SuYXLNKllH

— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) September 23, 2024

"He was born for cricket" - R Ashwin on Rishabh Pant

The 38-year-old offspinner further praised Pant for his physical and mental strength and claimed that the youngster was just born for cricket. Ashwin was also impressed with the way Pant batted in difficult conditions when the other batters were getting beaten.

"He was born for cricket. He was born for cricket in every angle. He is a strong person. It goes very far when he hits. He hits with one hand only. Everyone sees that and underestimates him. He has that much capability," Ashwin revealed.

"He says yes to everything. He is a talent. When everyone was getting beaten, he put his legs forward and said 'Ball are you coming?' He looks at the ball and defends," he added.

Rishabh Pant's partnership with Shubman Gill

Rishabh Pant stitched a brilliant partnership of 167 runs with Shubman Gill in the second innings to help India set a daunting target for Bangladesh. Indian bowlers later defended the score with ease and bowled out the visitors for 234, thus winning the match by 280 runs.

Meanwhile, it was a great match for Ravichandran Ashwin as well. The senior off-spinner scored a fantastic hundred in the first innings to bail India out of a precarious position. Ashwin scored 113 off 133 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes.

R Ashwin did not stop here and showed his bowling credentials in the second innings. He finished with 6-88, thus adding more wickets to his already impressive wickets tally. Ashwin was adjudged Player of the Match for a magnificent all-round performance.