Rishabh Pant had a remarkable comeback to Test cricket for India. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who had been out of action for almost two years owing to severe injuries sustained in a car accident, hit a century in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh.
India won the test by 280 runs in Chennai on Sunday (September 22). Pant faced 280 balls in the second inning and scored 109 runs with 13 fours and four sixes.
Pant was even seen laying the field for the Bangladeshi squad on the third day of play in the series opener at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, and the video went viral on the internet.
The stump mic caught him saying, “One fielder here,” as he pointed in the direction of mid-wicket. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto acknowledged his suggestion and moved one of his teammates to the same position.
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After the match, Rishabh Pant was in conversation with official broadcasters, when former Saba Karim, an Indian cricketer, questioned Pant about the motive for his viral behavior on the field, to which he stated that he was attempting to assist the visitors with their field placement in order to keep the game competitive.
“When Taskin Ahmed was coming to bowl in the second inning, why were you setting the field for him? Who is the Bangladesh captain, Shanto or Rishabh Pant?” Saba asked Pant.
“Ajay (Jadeja) Bhai and I often talk about how cricket should be better, whether the other team plays or our own. There wasn’t a fielder there; two fielders were standing in the same spot, so I told him to position a fielder there,” Pant said.
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Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant also revealed his conversation with India captain Rohit Sharma, and trying his best to own the no.5 spot in Indian batting XI.
"There's a difference when a batsman is down the order because I was discussing this with Rohit Bhai. Earlier, when I used to bat at six or seven, the opportunity to score big runs or a hundred was limited. I was telling him this because the tailenders come in, so I play with a different mindset," Pant explained.
Pant was promoted to bat at No.5 ahead of KL Rahul in both innings of the Chennai Test, suggesting the team management's faith in the southpaw to anchor the middle order. Pant's reflection on his role at No. 5 highlights his hunger for larger contributions.
"But when you have a batsman coming lower down the order, you can bat like a regular batsman and build partnerships, which gives you a chance to score runs. That's the point — if I come lower down the order and score seventy or eighty with the tail, here at number five, there's a chance to score a hundred, one fifty, or even a double hundred," he added.
Pant's development as a key middle-order batsman might be crucial, particularly in high-pressure contests. His renewed desire to convert beginnings into huge scores is consistent with India's goal of developing a competitive batting order.
Rishabh Pant also revealed why he switched gears after lunch. Pant said that captain Rohit Sharma told them that he will declare the innings after one hour and they should make as many runs as possible in that time.
The panelists asked Rishabh Pant, "Why are you playing so fast, Rishabh?"
To this Rishabh Pant replaed: “jab lunch pe aaye the tab. Rohit bhai ne bola ki '1 ghanta aur khelenge, jisko jo banana hai bana lo.' Toh mera mindset change ho gaya ki jaldi-jaldi bana leta hoon.”
