Ravichandran Ashwin angry at Rishabh Pant over reckless strokeplay, leaks dressing room info
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Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has seemed disgusted by Rishabh Pant's reckless gameplay, which has led to India's collapse under several tough situations. He has mentioned that, other than being just talented, he also has to hold his nerve in intense situations for India.
India lost the series agains the Proteas; they suffered a whitewash, but what was most humiliating was that they lost both games without a proper fightback. The first game ended in a devastating batting collapse while chasing a timid score, while the second was further devastating as the track where the Proteas batters neared three hundred, the Indian team failed at pulling out a team double hundred.
"Rishabh Pant has an excellent defensive technique; he should use it," opines Ravichandran Ashwin
The legendary Indian spinner, who shared the dressing room and the nets with the Indian stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant, has opined that the players have a great defensive technique and a stride forward, and should be using it more often. Ravichandran Ashwin recalled having said the same thing to Pant in the dressing room.
"My heartbeat used to go fast in the dressing room when Rishabh Pant batted. He has a superb game and defence, so I always wonder why he would get out to shots like these. I will still say he is a very good player, and the day he takes responsibility, things can start changing. I don’t deny the X-factor he brings. Nathan Astle once smashed 200-odd runs in Christchurch," Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out.
"But he didn’t play the same way in every Test after that. Similarly, batters cannot play the same way every time. I have said it in the dressing room, but it cannot change until he realizes it. If you are a captain today, 10 others will follow in your footsteps. So, responsibility is a must," he added.
The second inning's dismissal was disgusting from their point of view, as he lunged onto a flighted delivery from Simon Harmer, and it took the bat's shoulder and went straight to Aiden Markram in the slip cordon. He was dismissed for just 13 as India suffered their biggest ever defeat by 408 runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin says, "Taking the game into the last session would have been good enough"
Ravichandran Ashwin also opined that the Guwahati pitch was adequate for playing good Test cricket, but India could not put forward an impressive fight.
"Ravi Shastri used to say, ‘You need to have that ticker.' But not everyone has that. I wasn’t sad about losing the Test, but there was no fight. This pitch was also of Test quality. I would’ve been happy had they taken it to the last session and lost. I understand a leader should take responsibility, but in the dressing room, everyone should raise their hands individually and take that accountability," said Ravichandran Ashwin.
"Only then will the improvement come. I will still say this team is way behind in terms of experience and everything in Test cricket. It will take time for this time to go up," he added.
Gautam Gambhir's reign marks South Africa's first Test series win in India since 2000
The Gautam Gambhir reign has marked the most troublesome era for India in the longest format of the game. Until Gambhir's arrival, India was the World's no. 1 Test side and was almost invincible at home for over a decade.
Since Gambhir's arrival, India not only started losing series at their home but also suffered humiliating whitewashes. South Africa and India had a record of not winning a series on their soil for decades, but with their recent win at the Eden Gardens and then in Guwahati, the record has been sidelined.
This marked South Africa's first Test series victory in India since they had won it for the first time in 2000. This also marked India's second whitewash at home in 12 months and Temba Bavuma's 11th straight win after having led South Africa in 12 matches in red-ball cricket.
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India National Cricket Team South Africa National Cricket Team India vs South Africa South Africa vs India Ravichandran Ashwin Rishabh Pant
