Ind vs Ban, Rishabh Pant – “It’s great to be back to Test cricket where I belong most”

At the start of 2023, we, including Rishabh Pant, wondered if he would ever step on a cricket field again, let alone be the same flamboyant Pant the world fell in love with. In a road accident on his way to surprise his mother in Uttarakhand, his car caught fire; most would consider it a blessing to come out alive, let alone compete again in elite sport. Less than two years later, he has met all the recovery deadlines given to him, and despite missing the domestic ODI World Cup, he is a T20I world champion and, more importantly, now back as a Test jack-in-the-box.

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.

“It was definitely emotional because when I came back, I wanted to score in every single game, which I failed to do (in the first innings when he recovered but made a mental error),” Pant told broadcasters after India’s 280-run win over Bangladesh in Chennai. “But to come back to Test cricket, where I belong the most, is great. I enjoyed batting there and just got a bit emotional. But at the end of the day, I enjoy just being on the field more than anything else.”

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.”

Captain Rohit Sharma was full of praise for Pant’s comeback. “He has been through some really tough times and it was great to see him overcome those tough times,” Rohit said. “He came back in the IPL, followed by the World Cup, a very successful World Cup, and obviously this is the format he loves the most.”

“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.”

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