“Rishabh Pant doesn’t like to bat in the last 20-30 minutes” - Ravi Ashwin makes a huge revelation

Former Indian cricketer and cricketing analyst Ravi Ashwin has revealed that the Indian keeper-batter and vice-captain Rishabh Pant doesn’t like coming out to bat in the last half an hour or 45 minutes before the end of the day’s play.

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Citing an example from India’s tour of Bangladesh in 2022, when India needed 145 runs in the fourth innings and they lost two quick wickets, Pant requested the then-head coach Rahul Dravid to send in another batter instead of him.

Dravid had then promoted the all-rounder Axar Patel instead. Later, nightwatchman Jaydev Unadkat was sent in. Pant could score only nine runs off 13 balls in that innings while India managed to bag a three-wicket thrilling win.

"During India’s tour of Bangladesh in 2022, after a couple of wickets fell in the 145-run chase, Rishabh told Rahul bhai, 'Main nahi jaa raha hoon aaj raat'. Half an hour or 45 minutes were still left at the time, but he said he would not go and went inside. Axar Patel and Jaydev Unadkat were sent in after wickets fell. Rishabh doesn't like to bat in the last 20-30 minutes,” Ravi Ashwin told on his YouTube channel.

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Furthermore, Ashwin asserted that he would be keen to watch Pant’s batting on Monday, Day 5 of the Lord’s Test, as the ongoing game is not just about making runs or playing rash shots since the surface isn’t good enough for batters.

"I was about to tweet that 'Rishabh is not going to walk out in the last 20 minutes'. He is not always ready to come in. India were chasing an impossible score at Gabba; they were looking at a 360-odd chase. Rishabh came out and played his game and took the bowlers to the cleaners. Gabba's pride was broken, that all is fine. But with the skill Rishabh has, I want to watch how he handles the pressure tomorrow because this Test is not about making runs or playing shots," he added.

At stumps on Day 4, India were reeling at 58/4 in 17.4 overs with 135 more runs required to win the contest and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

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