IND v WI 2018: Rishabh Pant says Virat Kohli's backing built confidence in him

Pant is gearing up for the upcoming Test series against West Indies.

Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli | AFP

Rishabh Pant has started to work on becoming an integral part of the Indian Test side. His major competitors Dinesh Karthik and Wriddhiman Saha are out of contention for now.

While Saha is recovering from an injury, Karthik failed to impress when he got a chance in England.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli sees what it takes to be a member of the Indian team in the 20-year-old. Pant is aware of the fact that Kohli has trust in him and that is what boosts his confidence.

Rishabh will be playing against West Indies in the coming days. It will be a good opportunity for Delhi wicket-keeper to up his game with glovework and get into the limelight.

"I try to improve myself in every department. Be it wicketkeeping or batting, one trains only to improve," Pant told IndiaTV during the show 'Cricket Ki Baat'

Pant did well to capture attention on the England tour. Despite India getting thrashed by 4-1, the southpaw made a name for himself by scoring a fighting ton in the last Test. 

Recalling his 146-ball 114, which he scored in the fourth innings of the fifth Test, Pant said: "I play according to the merit of the ball. It's important to back your natural game but you have to keep the situation in mind too. As I scored a century in the last match, it came after 150-odd deliveries. You can't play every ball aggressively."

Kohli had lauded the youngster for his innings even though India couldn't snatch away victory from England at the Oval. After the game, Virat said that Pant's character impressed him. He believes the wicket-keeper batsman will get better with more games as he just needs the experience to seal his place in the side.

The Roorkee-born said Virat's words did help him in gaining confidence. "As a youngster, it feels good when your captain backs you. It builds your confidence. I will look to capitalize on the opportunities I get in future after a Test ton in England."

He revealed how Kohli shares his experiences to help them avoid mistakes initially in their career. "Virat Kohli shares his experiences with youngsters to boost their confidence. He tells us how we can overcome mistakes at an early stage," Pant said. 

India and West Indies will play their first Test match on October 4 in Rajkot. 

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 02 Oct, 2018

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