Ashwin Urges Gambhir & Gill to Mentor Pant: Focus on Converting Centuries into Double Hundreds

Former Indian off-spinner R Ashwin has urged Team India coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill to mentor Rishabh Pant, encouraging him to convert his centuries into double centuries. This advice comes ahead of the second Test against England, scheduled to begin in Birmingham on July 2.

Pant showcased exceptional batting prowess in Leeds, notching centuries in both innings. However, his remarkable performance couldn't prevent India from succumbing to a five-wicket defeat.

"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 stated on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat.

Ashwin's suggestion to Pant was clear: aim for double centuries after crossing the century 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."

Despite Pant's individual brilliance, India head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized the importance of results over individual performances following the Test loss to England.

When questioned about the positives from the Test, Gambhir offered a concise response: "There are three more centuries as well. Those are big positives too. Thank you."

Elaborating on the positives, Gambhir remarked, "I would have liked if you said there was a hundred from Yashasvi (Jaiswal), a hundred from Shubman (Gill) on debut as captain, a hundred from KL (Rahul), and two centuries from Rishabh. So, five centuries in a Test match is a great start, to be honest. And hopefully, the question could have been better."