Indian cricket fans just witnessed and rejoiced seeing Rishabh Pant return in top form as he hit a quickfire century during his comeback Test match against Bangladesh at Chennai. Pant batted fairly solidly, attacking with confidence, most noticeably forming a partnership with Shubman Gill in the game, as this partnership earned them victory for India and scored 109 runs with four sixes.
Post match Pant spoke to the BCCI’s social media platform as he reflected on coming back to Test cricket and looking forward to scoring a century on the third day of the match. “I was very nervous, very jittery,” he admitted. “But there was some fire inside that I wanted to make it happen, and eventually I did it.”
There came a remarkable 167-run partnership between Pant and Gill. The latter humorously narrated, “Pant tried to break his bat while trying to get a run. That sums up our friendship very well.” Talking about their bonding, Pant said, “One thing I have understood over a period of time is that when you have a great relationship outside the field, it really helps to bat with that guy”. When you share a great bond outside, you understand how that person is thinking, how the game is moving around. We just wanted to make ourselves relaxed, just wanted to stitch a great partnership.
Yeah, I think the understanding of the game for me is that cricket should improve wherever you play, so I was just trying to help the other team by telling them they could set a fielder there, ” Pant said, describing a light-hearted moment in the match when he helped Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto with field placements. “It was amazing, actually, I really enjoyed it.”
Pant will join the action with the team from the second Test against Bangladesh, which is to begin on September 27 in Kanpur