'I Was Very Jittery but There Was Some Fire Inside': Rishabh Pant Opens Up on His 'Nervous' Comeback

Rishabh Pant announced his return to Test cricket with a daunting hundred against Bangladesh in Chennai. After managing 39 in the first innings, the wicketkeeper-batter smashed 109 runs in the team’s second essay and also featured in a 167-run partnership with Shubman Gill, setting the base for India’s promising win.

The return after 21 months was full of excitement and nervousness but the 25-year-old aced the situation upfront. Speaking with the BCCI. TV, Pant admitted he felt jittery but had the fire within to go out there and perform.

“I think I was very nervous. I was very jittery, but you know there was some fire inside that I wanted to make it happen, and eventually, I did it, and I’m happy,” Pant said in a video posted by BCCI on X.

While his 39-run effort in the first innings fell short of his expectations, Pant more than made up for it in the second, forging a crucial 167-run partnership with opener Shubman Gill. The wicketkeeper-batter spoke highly of his partnership with Gill, crediting their camaraderie off the field for their success in the middle.

“When you have a great relationship outside the field, it really helps to bat with that guy. We were just having fun, having chats, talking about the game, and staying relaxed. At the end of the day, we both knew what we wanted to do.”

“I think the understanding of the game for me is that cricket should improve wherever you play. So I was just trying to help the team that you can set a fielder here, and it was amazing. Actually, I enjoyed it,” Pant said with a smile.

Pant’s explosive performance, paired with Gill’s composed knock, laid the foundation for India’s massive 280-run victory, putting them 1-0 up in the two-match Test series.