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  • 8 months ago
Rishabh Pant opened up on his relationship with new India Test captain Shubman Gill and said that he gels really well with the 25-year-old on and off the field. Pant will act as Gill's deputy as he begins his time as the new skipper of the Indian team in the longest format of the game.
Transcript
00:00Can you talk on being a vice captain with Joran, a senior player and experience with having
00:04third and really started? How many rookies talk to those double-fold captains?
00:09See, personally, like, I'm in good headspace. Whenever I play cricket, I love to contribute
00:15from my side, like being on the field, maybe batting, fielding, keeping. I just try to
00:22contribute as much as I can from my side and that's the kind of thought process with which
00:27I play cricket all the time and nothing changes for me coming to India.
00:36Rishabh, start.
00:37Rishabh is the start of a new era. Shubh Mungil captain, you yourself vice captain. What kind
00:44of team environment you want to create? What kind of template you want to create, especially in
00:48longer format of the team? If you can see your thought process and the kind of conversations
00:53you have had with the leadership group and the coaching staff.
00:56See, the idea is very simple. Obviously, it's a new start for us. It's definitely big people have
01:02left light. Yes, there will be a gap, but at the same time, what we can do is it's opportunity for us
01:09to build a new culture from there or take a culture forward from there, just adding to it. I think being
01:16in a great frame of mind, helping the new players to learn and improve themselves in overseas condition,
01:23I think that is something we look forward to and, you know, sharing knowledge with each other,
01:28having that care and love in the dressing room for each other and that is something we're looking forward to do.
01:33I think that is something we don't want to lose as a cricketers. You know, playing at the top level,
01:47we stop enjoying the game and that is something which is very special to us for all of us to create that
01:54environment where you can still playing the cricket at the best and still enjoying the game.
02:00And second, the wicket is looking pretty green, but at the same time, you know, coming to England,
02:05thinking about green wicket is nothing different for us. Like, yes, we have prepared, we have already
02:10prepared for that. At the same time, you know, both teams have to play on the same wicket.
02:14So, whosoever is going to play better cricket is going to win eventually.
02:31I think we had more time there in the practices. Obviously, it's closer to match. You just want to
02:41do your basic closer to match. But we had our volume done in London and that was really important
02:47for us coming to the England side. And we did our part from London and coming back to the England side.
02:53Now we're going to focus on how we're going to take the game off.
02:56Mishab, how does it feel being looked at as a senior player?
03:02It feels good, boss. Finally, it feels good, but at the same time, you know,
03:09it's a responsibility also to share your knowledge, your experience with our new players,
03:15new youngsters coming to the team, but at the same time, not focusing on that senior part too much.
03:19You still have to play the game. You still have to learn the game as an individual and keep helping
03:25people around you. That's how I look at it.
03:27When you're batting in the middle, does that change your instinct?
03:29The instinctive batting that we know from different players later?
03:33See, it's an extra added responsibility, but at the same time, when you are in the middle of the
03:38ground, you're not thinking, oh, I'm the vice-captor, I'm the senior player. You're just a batsman in
03:42between. You've got to do the best whatever you can from your side and eventually the game will take care of itself.
03:49Rishabh, obviously the fact that India have not won a series in India since 2007. So,
03:56will it be a challenge for you for this young group?
04:01As a team, I think we are looking at it as an opportunity to express our talent. I think that's
04:08how we look at it as a team, not focusing what happened in the past, what is going to happen in
04:14future. Just really being in present. The things we can do is practice well, focus on the game,
04:20and just take one game at a time.
04:21Rishabh, a different kind of question, if I may. You talk about your responsibility,
04:26and I know it's always a responsibility for the Indian cricket team to make India happy. It's a big
04:32responsibility and opportunity. I know in India right now, and also in the UK, there is great shock and
04:38sadness after what happened with the air accident. I wonder if that almost makes it even more
04:43important for you to have the opportunity to lift people's spirits perhaps. I wonder if that's in
04:48your mind here too.
04:50Rishabh, see definitely that is one part which actually changed my thought process a lot. Coming
04:55forward, last two years, I've been tough coming back from accident. But at the same time, you know,
05:01I want to be an individual who is learning each and every day. Obviously, it puts us in a pressure
05:07situation because, you know, you want to make India happy all the time. But as a cricketer, it's not
05:12possible all the time. But what I can promise from our side is we're going to put our best foot forward
05:17and we're going to give our 200%. And in that process, we're going to make India a lot happy place.
05:23Do you think it has special significance because of the accident and the mood in the country?
05:28See, for me, after my accident, just being on the ground and making people believe that I can come
05:34back and the kind of love they're showing me, it's always going to be special for me.
05:39Yes, I know, because absolutely so, because of your accident, that's very, very important. But
05:48in the country as a whole, because of the air crash, you know, there is a mood of sadness,
05:53I think that will be reflected in the game here. And perhaps that gives you perhaps a sense of wanting
05:58to make people happy because of the of the air crash. What happened in the aircraft, I think the
06:04whole India was like sat in disheartened. But at the same time, the only thing from our side,
06:10we're going to be sticking to them, how we can make India happy again, not feeling, obviously,
06:15the emotion is going to be high always. Because what happened in the crash, but at the same time,
06:21we're going to put our best foot forward for the country, how we can make them happy.
06:26And that's added responsibility always. Perfect. Thank you so much.
06:29So, it's been five, five and a half months since
06:32since India has smashed a lot of white ball cricket. How much of the adjustment
06:36that you have to make coming back to red ball cricket? Is it mental and how much is technical?
06:41I think mostly it's mentally. A little bit of technical is like in one day in T20,
06:46you're going to open up your stance a little bit because the kind of shot you want to play.
06:50But at the same time, coming to England, you're going to play a little side out
06:54and that really helps. And that's the basic technical thing which I've shifted.
06:58Other than that, it's just the mindset thing.
07:03I just wanted to know that in England, obviously, they play with the Duke's ball
07:07and some of the young players over here who haven't played test cricket.
07:11How do you see this adjusting with this Duke's ball? I mean, you know that Duke's ball has,
07:16from a technical point of view, there are a lot more help you can just share.
07:22Because you have played some cricket over here.
07:25One thing which really helped me coming to England was like playing close to the body.
07:30Because we know that Duke's ball moves a lot around, especially depending on the weather.
07:35When sunny is going to get better and if it's overcast, it's going to move around a lot,
07:39even if the wicket is better. And that is something very basic. I think as a cricketer,
07:44we always try to do that playing red ball cricket, playing ball close to the body,
07:48and late as possible.
07:51Dishabh, do we have the identity of who will play 3-4-5? For example,
07:56when you stay at 5 and then Shubban drop to 4. How does that change in terms of the roles
08:01and responsibilities of who will play at 3-4-5?
08:06I think there is still discussion going on who's going to play at 3.
08:10But definitely 4 and 5 are fixed. I think Shubban is going to bat at number 4.
08:15And I'm going to stick to number 5 as of now. And rest, we're going to keep on discussing over that.
08:20Dishabh, how important is it to put pressure on the opposition's spinner?
08:26And whether that's you personally going after the spinner, will you look to target Shoyd Bashir?
08:31Dishabh, depending on the match situation, obviously, it's always good to put pressure on,
08:38not just the spinner. I think even the fast bowler, you're going to put them under pressure,
08:41depending when you want to do that. But at the same time, as a cricketer, I'm not thinking about
08:47that all the time. It just happens depending on the game situation, how the game is unfolding,
08:52and just play the game in that direction.
08:55Rishabh, it's a young team that we all know. Young captain, young vice captain. But you guys have
09:03played for a long time together. So, just talk us about the conversations that you have had with
09:10Shubban as a captain and a vice captain, once you got to know about it. And secondly, how are you
09:16looking at the entire series in terms of what kind of, I wouldn't say like a brand of cricket,
09:21but what kind of cricket you want to play? And how is it that the two of you are going to take
09:26the Indian cricket team philosophy ahead? I think the idea is very simple. Look to play positive,
09:33brave cricket. But at the same time, you got to respect the condition. Depending, if there is a ball
09:38to hit, you got to hit it. And if the condition requires you to leave the ball, struggle in, get
09:44yourself in, why not do it? Just finding ways, I think that is one of the key factors for us. Like,
09:51every game, every ball is a different ball altogether. You got to keep finding ways during
09:56the match, even though there might be times when you're struggling, but you still believe in that
10:01you're going to find ways and make your team win from there. And the fact about the camaraderie between
10:06you and Shubban and the conversation. I think me and Shubban has a really good camaraderie
10:11of the field, especially of the field. Like, you know, if you are good friends of the field,
10:15it eventually comes on the field. It's much more better for cricket always. And that is something I've
10:20always believed. And me and him, we deal really well together. We have, we keep on having
10:25conversation and the kind of comfort zone we have with each other. I think that is really going to
10:30be special for us.
10:31want to learn what is happening to you.
10:40You are very motivated and motivated.
10:44You are also saying that you don't have to pressure.
10:47As a leadership role, you have to be a better team.
10:51What are your roles?
10:53We are looking at the role of the Rishabhant who are taking the role of the leader.
10:58You will find some extensions.
11:00Now we are not a basic advice.
11:02But we have also seen other formats.
11:04And if you are in India.
11:06See, it's a lot of times that the vice-captain, captain, you have to contribute to the game.
11:17And I've always done this as an individual, that what can be the best.
11:22Where you can be the baller, where you can be the fielding angles.
11:26When I was not vice-captain, I would do that part.
11:30So my mindset has not changed.
11:34Now I've got another authority, but at the same time, I'm not thinking about it.
11:40From my side, I can contribute to the goalers.
11:43I can contribute to Shubhi.
11:45From my side, I will forward the best.
11:47And eventually, what will happen will happen.
11:50Rishabh, you mentioned batting in England, English conditions.
11:54Is it nice not to be having to face James Anderson and Stuart Broad without jukes ball?
11:58Is there maybe a bit of an opportunity with England's inexperienced attack?
12:02Definitely, it feels so good when both of them are not there.
12:08Because coming from the last two tours, they have been there for England for so many years.
12:14And I've only came for two tours.
12:17But at the same time, you know, they have enough ammunition as England bowling line-up.
12:23We don't want to take anyone lightly.
12:25Because our team also is young.
12:27They are still looking to develop themselves.
12:29But at the same time, you've got to play our cricket.
12:32And respect the bowlers and opposition where it needs it.
12:36We need it.
12:37Yes, sir.
12:38Sibat.
12:39Meanwhile, when the Greatest one is getting together for a bar withesus,
12:43the hot dog.
12:44He is not even talking to me.
12:45In my strait.
12:46But he is talking about how many people like this,
12:49we don't want to do it.
12:50But he's talking about the rest of the street,
12:55whatever.
12:56The reason I'm talking to talk about this,
12:58is that the small people who are Vangерь and other hands are open,
13:01I think the basic thing about cricket comes up and you have to scale because all of the
13:16places T20 cricket and you play one day so you have to scale a bit of a technical point
13:21of view.
13:22But coming to England, you have to keep in mind that you have to respect the condition
13:28and you have to play cricket and you don't need to be more aggressive.
13:58See, as a team we don't think in that way, like we want to come to England, best performance,
14:05we want to win this series and that's the kind of mindset we come with, always.
14:11Because we are not thinking we are a young team.
14:15And the kind of conversation we have in the group is how we can win this match, win this
14:20series, how everyone can contribute.
14:23For us, it's not about getting glory with individual players.
14:28It's eventually because if the team wins, everyone wins.
14:32And that's the kind of thought process and that kind of mentality we want to take in future.
14:38And the communication we had with players is let's focus on the team group rather than
14:44focusing on the individual stuff.
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