In his comeback Test, Pant equalled MS Dhoni as the Indian wicketkeeper with the most centuries, confirming what observers had long suspected: Even though he came to our attention as a T20 player, he is most at home in Test cricket.
Pant has matched Dhoni in terms of centuries on Dhoni’s quasi-home ground. Pant said he also loves the atmosphere there. “A lot of things are special because first of all, I love playing in Chennai,” said Pant. “And secondly, after my injury, I wanted to play all three formats and this was my first Test match after my return. I just love it every day.”
Pant may not have made a big score (39) in the first innings, but he went into the match at 34 for 3 off KL Rahul and scored 62 alongside his friend Shubman Gill. “I try to interpret the situation in my own way,” said Pant. “And when you’re 30 for 3, I think you have to change the partnership. And that’s exactly what Gill and I did out there. I feel it helps especially when you’re talking to someone you have a good relationship with off the field.”
“For us, it was never about what he would do with the bat. We always knew what he could do with the bat and also with the gloves. It was just about getting him back in the game and giving him game time. You have to give him credit for that. He then played the Duleep Trophy and prepared for this Test match and immediately had an impact in the game.”