‘Even the super seniors made me comfortable..’ – Rishabh Pant recalls his debut for India
Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant expressed gratitude towards the senior players for making him feel at ease during his International debut back in 2017. After a stellar performance in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, the 26-year-old made his debut for India in the final T20I of the three-match series against England in Bengaluru in February 2017.
Even though India secured a victory by 75 runs, Pant’s contribution was minimal as he faced just three deliveries and remained unbeaten on five runs in their substantial total of 202/6 in 20 overs. Reflecting on the experience during Star Sports’ ‘Believe’ series, Pant reminisced about how he remained unfazed, attributing it to the supportive environment created by his teammates.
“The majority of the time I didn’t feel like that. I was in awe at the beginning. You have watched all of them on TV. But they were all welcoming. Even the super seniors made me comfortable. It’s the team culture to make everyone feel comfortable. And when it happens at the start, it’s good. Because at 17-18 years you know nothing about life,” said Pant.
Before his injury, the southpaw has emerged as one of India’s most impactful match-winners in Test cricket in recent years. Accumulating 2,271 runs in the red-ball format at an impressive average of 43.67, he has notched up five centuries. Additionally, the wicketkeeper batter has represented India in 66 T20Is and 30 ODIs, amassing over 1,800 runs, which includes a century and eight half-centuries.
I was feeling that someone saved me: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant shared his harrowing experience of feeling that his life was in jeopardy following a dreadful accident in December 2022. The dynamic wicket-keeper batsman sustained severe injuries, including a torn ligament in his right knee and two lacerations on his forehead, during a car collision.
“First time in my life I felt like my time in this world was up. During the accident, I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious. I was feeling that someone saved me. I asked the doctor how long will it take for me to recover. He said it would take 16-18 months. I knew I had to work hard to cut this recovery time,” said Pant.
