Rishabh Pant recalls the moment when he heard about receiving Test cap at Trent Bridge

Pant has now established himself as a leading wicketkeeper batsman in red-ball cricket.

Rishabh Pant | Getty

Having made his Test debut against England last year, Rishabh Pant has established himself as a leading wicketkeeper batsman in red-ball cricket. The southpaw has already scored two Test tons outside the subcontinent and was the second highest run-getter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.

Pant, who received widespread criticism for his raw ability behind the stumps in England, came back strongly during the four-match Test series in Australia. He took a world record-equalling 11 catches in the first Test at Adelaide and finished the series with 20 catches.

In an exclusive interview with ESPNcricinfo, Pant recently recalled the moment when he heard about receiving the Test cap at Trent Bridge.

“It was the morning of our four-day match against England Lions. It was almost their main team. Alastair Cook, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Ollie Pope, Dawid Malan, they were all there. We were about to go out on the field – we had lost the toss and were fielding first. Just then Nannu pa [Sarandeep Singh, national selector] called me over. “Rishabh, come here for a minute.” I went there. And he said, “You are selected.” I said, “For what?” Maine kaha surety toh le loon.” [I wanted to be sure before I let myself enjoy it.]

“He said, your name is in the Test team. Oh mere ko jo khushi hui us time pe [Oh the joy I felt at that time…] The first thing I did was hug Nannu pa. Then I went to keep wicket, and what joy I kept wicket with that day,” Pant quoted.

England is deemed as the most difficult place to keep wicket. Given the quality of Indian bowlers, it must have been tough for Pant to adjust in his maiden Test series.

Sharing his experience of wicketkeeping in England, Rishabh said: “No. You face all these bowlers in the IPL. Domestic cricket has these same bowlers. Just that the ball moves a lot more in England. But that's okay, there's always a first time. But I can say that as a wicketkeeper, when I played India A matches and then against the Lions, I had a fair idea of what to expect. Also, these matches were played with the Dukes ball. And it is India A bowlers who go and bowl in Tests in the future. Unless you are a good bowler, you won't be in the India A side.”

During the second innings of the fifth Test at The Oval, Pant scored a swashbuckling 114 and forged a 204-run stand with KL Rahul (149) for the sixth wicket while chasing a herculean target of 464.

Remembering that knock, Pant revealed that despite India getting reduced to 2/3, the team had the belief to pull off a victory.

“During that hundred in England [at The Oval], we were too far behind. You had to be careful to pick what balls you hit. In England, if you give yourself some time, you can score runs. So I was very selective at the start of the innings. Once I got used to the conditions, the runs came,” Pant asserted.

“In the final session we were just thinking about how we can chase the total down. When I and Rahul bhai [KL Rahul] were batting, we were positive. The game plan was to play normal cricket, but then he got out, and then I got out.”

“Right now in this Indian team, we only play to win. Whatever the match, whatever the situation, every player, from No. 1 to 11, only thinks about how he can win the match for India. That is the most important thing for us. That we have to win it for India,” he elaborated.

Pant will represent Delhi Capitals in the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League. He was one of the very few players to be retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL auction.

“There have been quite a few changes. The support staff has changed, players have changed, the name has changed. I feel we can do something different this time. At the start of the season we are only focusing on how we can win the trophy,” Rishabh said.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 19 Feb, 2019

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