"I have said it in the dressing room" - Ravichandran Ashwin slams India star for his reckless strokeplay in IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his displeasure at Rishabh Pant's reckless strokeplay during the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. Ashwin said the wicketkeeper-batter is an excellent player and possesses a great technique but needs to play shots keeping in mind the situation.

Pant was part of the massive batting collapse against the Proteas on Day 3. Facing Marco Jansen in the second over after Tea, the left-hander charged at the left-arm seamer on the eighth delivery that he faced. All he managed was a nick through to the keeper. The hosts eventually conceded a 288-run lead after being bowled out for 201.

Speaking in the latest video on his YouTube channel 'Ashwin,' the 39-year-old opined that Pant has an excellent defensive technique and should use it more. Ashwin recalled saying the same thing to the keeper-batter in the dressing room when they played together.

"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."

"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 your footsteps. So, responsibility is a must," he added.

The southpaw's dismissal in the second innings for 13 was just as forgettable, as he came forward to a delivery from Simon Harmer. The ball took the bat's shoulder and ballooned to Aiden Markram. With 549 to win, the Indian team slumped to a 408-run defeat, their heaviest in terms of runs.

"I would’ve been happy had they taken it to the last session and lost" - Ravichandran Ashwin

In the same video, Ashwin opined that the pitch was of Test quality but the hosts showed little to no fighting spirit. He said:

"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."

"Only then, the improvement will 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.

This was South Africa's first Test series win on Indian soil since 2000.