The conversation between Rishabh Pant and Sunil Gavaskar “stupid, stupid, stupid,” could convert into a commercial, which could seem foolish initially. Gavaskar’s words, not ours, from Pant turned out in favourable conditions.
Pant, who is known for his aggressive and unconventional batting approach, there seems to be a narrow margin between brilliance and carelessness. Critics often judge based on conclusion rather than the process. Pant faced the criticism for his 10 or more slowest innings, however it stopped when he pulled a long hop straight to deep midwicket.
During the MCG Test (fourth test match on December 26 in Melbourne, India’s tour to Australia), the Indian team collapsed after the dismissal of Rishabh Pant, the next six wickets fell for only 34 runs, India could draw that test but unfortunately they lost it. He was still the top scorer for India in the next Test, both innings, which was played on a brutish SCG pitch. Pant has played the 43 Test matches, 31.33 is the average made by all top-six batters, but Pant’s average is 42.11.
Pant has the extraordinary record for 43 Tests, because of his individualistic approach. His fearlessness was the reason for India winning the Gabba Test and even the series, where coaches were expecting the series to be drawn.
As it was difficult, Pant focused on the lightness that was necessary for his style of playing. He came back to England not only as a visiting wicket keeper who scored two hundreds but a tag that challenges the lightness of a senior batter.
There is time to go but Pant wore that tag with characteristic lightness. “It feels good, boss. Finally,” Pant said at the press conference how it felt to be called a “senior” batter.
“It feels good but at the same time, you know it’s a responsibility also to share your knowledge, your experience with our new players, new youngsters coming to the team. But at the same time, not focusing on that senior part too much, you still have to play the game, you still have to learn the game as an individual and keep helping people around you. That’s how I look at it.” He said further.
Pant is the most experienced batsman after KL Rahul but he doesn’t focus on seniority.
“See it’s an extracted responsibility, but at the same time when you are in the middle of the ground, you are not thinking, ‘Oh, I’m the vice-captain. I’m the senior player.’ You’re just a batsman in the middle. You’ve got to do the best you can from your side, and eventually the game will take care of itself.”
He talked about the weight of Leadership roles, “A new start for us,” Pant said as he is ready to assist Shubman Gill.
“Definitely big people have left, yes there will be a gap, but at the same time it’s an opportunity for us to build a new culture or take the existing culture forward, just adding to it.”
Pant is the only visiting wicketkeeper to have scored hundreds in Australia, England and South Africa. He also holds the title of World T20 champion. He couldn’t play an ODI World Cup because of a serious accident. He was given the title of “stupid, stupid, stupid” on live broadcast by a senior cricketer. Now he is the leading player at the age of 27.
