Dissecting the Indian team’s rather forgettable performance in the first Test against England, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said on Thursday that while the focus of Indian batsmen should be on extending their time at the crease, vice-captain Rishabh Pant must take it upon himself to convert his hundreds into double centuries against an “average” England attack in the ongoing Test series.

“One thing that the Indian team’s batting can focus on is in every innings, can you extend your batting with time – not by runs. Increase the amount of time England is fielding and increase the amount of time you keep them on the field,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash ki Baat”.

Ashwin felt the game slipped out of India’s hands when they were bowled out early on the fourth day. “…I will say one thing – don’t panic and change drastically. India might level the series in the next Test. But if we don’t understand the tactics England are using, this series could well go away from us quickly. When you didn’t extend your batting into Day 5, the game was over. This England team has openly advertised that they will go for the target, whatever it may be. So as a batting lineup, we’ve to keep in mind that we have to give them less time but give a bigger target,” he said.

Ashwin suggested that setting a target of 450 on wickets like the one in Headingley with as little time as possible is the best way to win a Test match in England.

‘No point comparing Pant with Dhoni’

Ashwin said it was not appropriate to compare Pant to former India captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Dhoni never batted at the reasonably high No. 5 position. “Pant should be compared with the likes of Virat Kohli. He is a mainstream batter,” he said.

Comparing Pant’s ability to pick a delivery with Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ashwin said, “Some of these special batters have that knack of picking the ball early. They pick the line quickly, pick the length quickly and they get into lovely positions. Rishabh Pant is one of those rare players who has got that special skill.”

Lauding Pant’s twin centuries as a rare feat, Ashwin goaded him to consolidate on his exploits. “He has had a fabulous game as a batter. But I would like to repeat that he has got a great defence. There is not one shot in the book that he cannot play. Can I request you to make a double hundred next time when you’re batting at 130?” he said, requesting Pant to avoid his now-famous front flips, especially in Tests, as it could induce body stress.

Calls for Kuldeep’s inclusion

Ashwin strongly vouched for the inclusion of unorthodox left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test beginning in Birmingham on July 2. Terming Kuldeep as an “artist”, Ashwin said, “I want to see how England face him. If Kuldeep can get you a 3/100 and reduce the first-inning score to 350, you have a lead of 125. I believe Kuldeep would be a decisive factor. Had Kuldeep played, it might have been a different game.”