June 27, 2025 - Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin gave a detailed analysis of India’s five-wicket loss in the first match of the five-Test series at Leeds. He said India should focus more on their batting. He also added that Rishabh Pant should try to convert his centuries into double centuries against England’s "average" bowling attack in the ongoing Test series.

Ashwin's Advice to Pant

Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, said that one thing the Indian batting unit should focus on is increasing the time they spend at the crease — not just scoring runs. He said India should try to increase England’s fielding time by batting longer in every innings.

He added, “I would say one thing – don’t panic and don’t make too many changes. India can level the series in the next Test. But if we don’t understand England’s strategy, then the series can slip away from us very quickly.”

Pant Compared to Former Pakistan Captain

Praising Pant’s two centuries in the match, Ashwin said it is not fair to compare him with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, because Dhoni never batted at number five. He said Pant should be compared with players like Virat Kohli, as he is one of the main batters and has enough time to build big innings.

Ashwin also compared Pant’s batting style to that of former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq. He said, “Some special batters can pick the ball very quickly. They read the line and length early and get into good positions. Rishabh Pant is one of those rare players who has this special skill.