ENG v IND 2021: Pant backs Kohli's choice of batting first; says it was a team decision

Team India was bowled out for 78 on day one of the third Test.

Team India had a shocking start on the first day of the third Test at Headingley, Leeds against England. Deciding to bat first, India lost four wickets in the opening session and were eventually bowled out for 78 runs as none of the batsmen got going.

Things got worse as England ended the day at 120/0 with openers Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns registering unbeaten half-centuries.

India's wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant defended captain Virat Kohli and his team saying such performances were a part and parcel of the game and said that they had to learn from their mistakes. 

"learn from mistakes and move on. It's part and parcel of the game. Every day the batting unit is giving hundred percent but sometimes it doesn't go well," Rishabh Pant said after the disastrous performance.  

Read also: ENG v IND 2021: Cricket fraternity stunned as England bowl out India for a paltry 78 in 1st innings at Leeds

Pant further credited the England bowlers who bowled in the right areas to put India on the back foot on the first day of the Test match. 

"In the morning, the wicket was slightly on the softer side and they bowled in good areas. We could have applied ourselves better. We can learn from it and only move on. That's all we can do as cricketers. You learn from your mistakes and improve," he added. 

The southpaw defended Kohli’s decision to bat first and said that it was a collective decision. 

"I don't think so. Whatever decision we take, we take as a team. So once we have decided we are going to bat first, we are going to back our decision. Yes we could have applied much better but we can't keep on thinking too much about the toss," he replied when asked if batting first was a tricky move. 

In recent times, Pant has been batting earlier than he would have liked to as the top-order has been consistently failing. He, however, sees this as an opportunity rather than a pressure situation. 

"As a cricketer, I don't think in that manner. Whatever be the situation, you think about the team first and what you can do in that situation. If the top-order collapses and you get an opportunity, I see it as an opportunity that if you can bail the team out of that situation, you are going to do wonders in your life, as a cricketer," he explained. 

"I see it as an opportunity to move on. I am not thinking too much about pressure as at the end of the day, everyone is thinking good for the team. So we need to take everything on our chin rather than thinking about pressure,” he concluded

(With PTI inputs)