The 27-year-old stumper, who made his ODI debut at the same venue, explained how special the Barsapara stadium is for him, and expects a better batting track with spin coming into play in the later stages.
Photo: IANS
Gearing up for his first Test as captain, Rishabh Pant doesn’t wish to overthink but conceded that the one-off opportunity isn’t ideal considering that India face a must-win situation at the ACA Stadium here to draw the series against reigning World Test champions South Africa.
“I don’t want to overthink. We had a tough first Test, and we need to do whatever is required to win. One-off matches are not the best scenario for a captain, but I am thankful to the BCCI for giving me this honour. Sometimes, if you think too much about a big occasion, it doesn’t help,” the southpaw said.
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“I want to keep it a mixture of both. Being conventional helps, but thinking outside the box also works. It’s all about balance. And yes, I definitely back my instincts,” he added.
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The 27-year-old stumper, who made his ODI debut at the same venue, explained how special the Barsapara stadium is for him, and expects a better batting track with spin coming into play in the later stages.
“Firstly, I would say that this ground is very special in my heart. I made my one-day debut here. I’m playing my first test captaincy match here. So, it will always be special for me. And I feel it’s special for the whole of Guwahati.
“Regarding the pitch, I think this wicket will play better. Definitely, it’s a better wicket to bat on. Obviously, it will eventually turn after a few days. But it is going to be a good contest,” he said.
On the eve of the Test, India received a setback after regular skipper Shubman Gill was officially ruled out, necessitating a forced change in the XI. Pant refused to reveal the replacement but maintained that the incoming player was aware of his inclusion.
With as many as seven left-handers in the Playing XI, there are possibilities of India going in with Nitish Kumar Reddy, as a right-handed option, and a potential third seamer if early moisture is exploitable.
“We have taken into consideration (the problem of) having a lot of left-handers in the batting lineup. We will announce it tomorrow. We have taken it [the decision] because the person who’s going to play, he already knows he’s going to play,” he said.
When asked about the overflow of all-rounders in the team, and if that is good for the game in the longest format, the 27-year-old said, “I feel it’s a balance sometimes for the team combination. You have to see if a specialised player is helping you more, or an all-rounder is giving you more stability in the team. So it’s all about finding that team balance and the way you want to play cricket.”
When asked about his captaincy philosophy, Pant said he believes in giving players freedom to express themselves.
“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. That’s the real goal. And obviously, whatever knowledge I have, I’m going to help them on the field, regardless of anything,” he said.
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