As he gets ready to make his debut as India’s 38th Test captain in the second match against South Africa starting in Guwahati on Saturday, Rishabh Pant acknowledged that leading India in a one-off Test is “not the best scenario.” However, the wicketkeeper-batter stated he does not want to “over-think” the challenge and instead focuses on combining conventional captaincy with “out-of-the-box” ideas.
After regular captain Shubman Gill was sidelined due to a neck injury, Pant will lead the team.
“Definitely, one-off match is not the best scenario as a captain. But at the same time, I’m really proud that BCCI has given me this opportunity. You know, whenever you’re leading your country, it’s the proudest moment,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
The Roorkee cricketer stated he wanted a combination of the old and the new when the conversation shifted to his leadership style.
“I think being conventional also helps. And also adding that outside (out-of) the box thinking definitely works out. So, you’re going to find, for me, it’s all about finding that balance between a conventional and out-of-the-box thinking,” Pant remarked as he prepared for a tough battle with the Proteas, who have an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
Giving players the freedom to express themselves would be a crucial responsibility, he said.
“To generalise, I want to be someone who gives that freedom and I want people and players to learn around and make the right decision for the team eventually,” he explained. “That’s the real goal and obviously whatever my knowledge is, that’s going to help them on the field.”
When asked if he could maintain his free-spirited personality while making important judgments, Pant responded it wasn’t too hard.
“And for the free spirit part of the thing, see, I personally don’t think about that. I just want to give my 100 per cent in whatever I’m doing and enjoy the game,” he said emphatically.
Pant disclosed that he was formally requested to assume the captaincy on Thursday night. “I speak to Gill every day,” he joked in response to the question of whether he had spoken to Gill.
Pant acknowledged that it is challenging to bounce back in a two-match series.
“It is always good to have more matches because you can come back from it. When you have a two-match series, it’s harder because the pressure is all the more if you lose the first match. But at the same time, you know, these are the things which we can’t control as a team,” he said.
Pant concurred that being a captain is never easy. When he filled in for an injured Gill on the third day of the first Test, he was questioned about his tactical decisions. He chose to deploy spinners instead of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah early on a deteriorating ground with inconsistent bounce; during this time, Temba Bavuma made an important fifty and South Africa contributed substantial runs.
Pant acknowledged the attention that comes with the job when asked if he would have handled the matter differently.
“Going with a spinner was our thought process but there was always a chance when you can get a fast bowler in. But that’s the challenge as a captain, you want to face each and every day that you’re going to be questioned. But eventually you’re going to do what you believe is right in that given frame of mind and trust that person who has the ball will do the job for the team.”
Pant emphasized that players chosen for the XI had been notified, but he did not formally confirm Gill’s replacement or whether another change may be made to ensure balance.
With off-spinner Simon Harmer in the South African lineup, Pant was asked if there would be room for a right-hander, to which he responded: “We have taken that in consideration because we have a lot of left-handers in the batting line-up. Mostly we have taken a decision and the person who is going to play, he already knows he’s going to play.”
