Ravichandran Ashwin backs Rishabh Pant at no.5, says left-hander’s shot-selection will improve with time

Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin wants Rishabh Pant to bat at number five in the upcoming five-match Test series against England as he thinks number six would be a tad late for the southpaw. Ashwin said Pant’s shot-selection is questionable in the red-ball version but feels it would improve with experience.

Pant has already played some mind-blowing knocks in the multi-day format in his young Test career. Meanwhile, after two successful tours of Australia, Pant failed to deliver on the 2024-25 tour.

The left-hander scored 255 runs in five Test matches against the Aussies at an average of 28.33, including only one fifty. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar had also slammed Pant for his shot selection during the commentary stint.

“I think Rishabh is a high-quality Test batsman. He can just walk into that team as a pedigree Test batsman even if he does not have to hold on to the gloves. Fantastic Test batter with a questionable choice of shots sometimes, but I guess he comes with it and he gives you match-winning knocks. It’s only a matter of time when he finds out the formula and rectifies it to become more consistent. He should be walking in at No. 5 as No. 6 for him would be a bit too late in my view. I would be glued to the TV set if he is batting,” Ashwin said in an interview with RevSportz.

On the other hand, Ashwin said newly appointed captain Shubman Gill must have been overawed by all the attention he has got since his appointment. The veteran spinner said it would be important for Gill to start well with the bat.

“About Shubman Gill, I think he is already too overwhelmed by the attention and responsibility he has got. If I was in his place with such a high-pressure job, I would want to have a very good start as a batsman. As a batter, he will have his share of questions on his place, as England can be a very tough place to bat. But if he makes runs, runs will give confidence and that would in turn rub on to captaincy. He is a very special player, and I hope he gets off to a very good start to avoid any questions raised,” the former spinner said.

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.