India vs Australia: “It has been a huge confidence booster for me” – Rishabh Pant on whirlwind century against Australia A

Coming into the Australia tour, Rishabh Pant was in the worst phase of his short career. A disastrous season in the Indian Premier League saw him lose his place in the limited-overs side. And Wriddhiman Saha seemed to have inched past him as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the away Test series. With all of this on his mind, Pant took the field in the second warm-up game. And was dismissed cheaply in the first innings as India folded for a mere 194.

But the pacers stepped up as the hosts were bowled out for 108. Indian batsmen seized the opportunity as Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill notched up half-centuries. Following up the great start, Hanuma Vihari and Pant scored centuries to take India’s lead past 400. Although the game ended in a draw, Pant hailed it as a great experience. He went on to label the practise game as essential for it will be the first time India will be playing the pink ball away from home.

“It was a great scenario because if you play a first-class match and we don’t play with the pink ball regularly. So a practice match was essential. And the bowlers bowled really well and the batsmen got to spend some time in the middle. So I think it was great practise because it gets a bit difficult to play under the lights, especially when the ball starts to swing. All in all, it was a great experience and got to learn a lot,” Pant told in an interview to BCCI TV.

The shots flowed and I completed a good century

The second innings saw a drastic change in fortunes for the Delhi glovesman. Pant scored a quickfire ton to put up a strong case and fast track his maiden pink-ball Test. The explosive batsman shares that he tried to spent some time in the middle. And as the innings progressed, his confidence seemed to increase by folds. Pant displayed some scintillating batting as he smashed Jack Wildermuth for 22 runs in the last over of the game.

“When I walked in, a lot of over were left. So I and Vihari planned to build a long partnership and spend some time in the middle. Because stumps were a couple of hours away and if wickets tumbled then, the tailenders would have had to bat it out. And there was a chance we could have been bowled out. So we thought to bat as long as we could. I tried to give myself some time in the middle. And gradually as the innings went on, my confidence started to build up.”

“In the last over I needed 21 odd runs to complete my century and I gave up hope. With these many runs to get in the last over and the first fall hitting my stomach, I got a bit angry. And decided that I have to try a couple of shots here. And then Vihari came up to me and said that the hundred is possible, you should try or we could bat tomorrow and you can complete your ton comfortably. So I also went on to try and as the shots flowed I completed a good century,” he adds.

Pant went on to hail the ton as a big confidence booster for him. The innings might mark the resurgence of the young wicket-keeper who seemed rusty following the lockdown. He shares that having missed the first tour game due to a stiff neck, he was trying to make a statement. And what would be better than a quickfire ton to reclaim his spot as India’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper for away games?

“Of course it gives me a lot of confidence. I have been in Australia for a month now and didn’t the first practice match due to a stiff neck. And even in the second one, the umpire got the leg before decision wrong. So I tried to give myself as much time I could in the middle. And I got a good innings which has been a confidence booster for me.“

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