Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India wicket keeper batter Rishabh Pant played a breath-taking knock of 146 off only 111 balls to see India finish Day 1 of the rescheduled fifth test against England at Edgbaston cricket ground. Pant along with Ravindra Jadeja (83* off 163 balls) not only bailed Indi out of deep trouble but put them in a strong position after Day 1. At one stage, India were 98/5 and then, Pant combined with Ravindra Jadeja to put on 222 runs for the sixth wicket. Pant’s knock was studded with 20 fours and 4 sixes. The left-hander was eventually dismissed by Joe Root, but Jadeja remained unbeaten on 83.
“I don’t focus on the bowler; I focus on what he is bowling. It is not pre-planned that I have to after this bowler, If I feel I can hit the ball, I do that. I think if you lose too many wickets, you need to give yourself time. I was trying to build a partnership with Jaddu Bhai and we were thinking let’s not lose a wicket till the tea break,” said Pant during a press conference after the close of play on Day 1.
On being asked what was his discussion with Jadeja, Pant said: “The discussion with Jadeja was to focus on the partnership. If you think about it individually, then the pressure can arise. So, we thought from the team’s point of view. I think I was just focusing on the ball, yes, the pressure was there. But if you focus on the pressure, you might not get the result. I try to focus on my process and that might give me results most of the time.”
When asked what sort of conversation he had with coach Rahul Dravid before the game, Pant said: “As a player, every hundred you can make in international cricket is a big achievement and you feel happy about it. It is upto you guys to decide which one was better, I just want to give my best. We were practicing well as a team so there was enough time to get ourselves in the mindset of playing a Test. Rahul bhai told me to play according to the ball and focus at one ball at a time, just try to play the situation and not think about what’s going to happen.”