NEW DELHI: During India's opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, making a comeback after almost two years, added some humor to the game.
On Day 3 of the second innings, Pant was heard on the stump mic advising the Bangladesh team on field placements. He was heard as saying, "O bhai, idhar aayega yeh fielder (please bring the fielder here)," entertaining the commentary team and fans alike.
After India's 280-run win, Pant spoke about the moment in a video shared by the BCCI on X. "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.
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Pant returned to Test cricket after recovering from an accident in December 2022. In the second innings, he scored 109 runs, showing a mix of aggressive and controlled batting. He expressed feeling nervous but determined.
"I was jittery, but there was a fire inside me to make it happen. And eventually, I did it. I'm happy, but not thinking about it too much," he said.
Pant and Shubman Gill formed a 167-run partnership, putting the Bangladesh bowlers under pressure. Pant highlighted their off-field relationship helping on the field.
"When you have a great relationship off the field, it helps on the field. We were having fun, talking about the game, and staying relaxed while focusing on stitching a great partnership," he said.
India now lead the series 1-0 as they head to Kanpur for the second and final Test starting on Friday.
