It was the biggest moment of my life!

Interview/ Rishabh Pant wicketkeeper, Indian cricket team

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The Border-Gavaskar series was perhaps a coming-of-age period for Rishabh Pant—wicketkeeper, batsman, match-winner of the final Test and the team’s funny man all rolled into one. Back home, he is feeling happier and more confident. Before leaving for Chennai to join the team camp for the England series, he spent a few days in Delhi with his mother and sister, who joined him from Roorkee, his hometown.

When THE WEEK spoke to Pant, he was in a playful mood—wearing a Tom and Jerry sweatshirt and a cap. He talked at length about the series victory in Australia, the challenges of balancing his wicketkeeping, batting and fitness, and how he plotted the unforgettable run chase on day five in Brisbane. He admitted that after long, he is once again happy in his life.

The win at the Gabba and all that unfolded after it are still hazy, and he cannot recall a single thing anyone said to him. But he has one grouse. That his mother did not pick up his phone call. “She never picks up my phone on time!”

I needed to make good use of the days ahead of the Test series. I was putting myself through the furnace so that I could become better.

After just a day’s rest, he was back in the nets training with his childhood coaches, Tarak Sinha and Devender Sharma, at the Sonnet Club in Delhi. Management agency JSW Sports signed him even before he landed in Delhi. He already plays for the company, which owns Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

Chirpy, cheeky and affable, this is the Rishabh Pant that the nation has grown to love. As a batsman, he has proven that he can be a match-winner for India anytime, anywhere. As a wicketkeeper, he is a work in progress. And he knows it. Excerpts from an interview:

Q/ It has been a few days since the team returned from Australia. Has it sunk in that you were one of the heroes of the series win?

A/ Yeah, it is just sinking in. Spending time with my family has helped. [But] I do not want to keep thinking about it because there is a new series coming up. So yes, I am feeling happy after a long time!

Q/ You had lost your place in the limited-overs squads. So going into the Test series, what was your approach and mindset like?

A/ I lost my place in the ODI and T20 squads, so I had to tell myself to focus on the [things I can control]. I had to focus on playing all four Tests. I was spending good time in the gym, training hard. I was practising well, so my whole focus was on how I could do better there and improve every day.

Q/ Your last tour to Australia was a good one too. Did that give you confidence going into this series?

A/ Yes, it does give you confidence when you tell yourself you have been there and done well, but I did not think about that too much. I was only focusing on myself and my cricket. My mindset was clear that I need to improve every day. I needed to make good use of the days ahead of the Test series. We had all gone there together and had enough time to prepare. I was putting myself through the furnace so that I could become better.

Q/ After lockdown and during the IPL, you focused on fitness and lost weight. When you left for Australia straight after the IPL, how difficult was it to strike a balance between wicketkeeping, fitness and batting?

A/ The lockdown was long, but I have been playing cricket for 17-18 years now. So even if I do not play for 7-8 months, it still remains. But there is also no limit for improving. One has to distribute time accordingly for all aspects—sometimes you bat less and keep more during training, sometimes you spend more time on physical training. I have three roles—all three cannot be the same every day.

Q/ Were you feeling the pressure when the Melbourne Test did not go well for you as a wicketkeeper?

A/ No, there was no such thing. It did not go as bad as it looked from the outside. But since I was playing a Test match after a long time, the bounce (on Australian pitches) is different. No matter how hard you practise, you do feel a bit nervous. But I was confident. At the end of the day, it all ended well. I was in a better space at the end of the match.

Q/ How bad did you feel when you missed out on your century in Sydney?

A/ I was feeling bad not because of missing a century, but because I was thinking about the match. We had the game in our grasp. Pujji bhai (Cheteshwar Pujara) and I were playing, and winning the match would have been different. That was more heart-breaking for me than missing a hundred.

Q/ During the second innings at the Gabba, at what point did you decide you would chase down the total?

A/ The plan was to play normal cricket, to let the game unfold and then see what happens. I was not thinking too much about winning, but it was there at the back of my mind. I did not try to do too many different things, and gave myself time to stay at the crease.

Q/ When you saw the way Pujara was getting hit, did that give you incentive to play with more freedom? How is it batting with Pujara?

A/ I have been batting with him now for a long time. Most of the time, we get to play the role together. When he was getting hit, I was amazed at his commitment! Even after playing for so many years, he is getting hit, standing there doing his job. That is the kind of environment we have created in the team—that no matter what, we have to stick there and believe in ourselves.

Q/ What did you make of the Aussie tacticsbowling short or into the bodyto get the breakthrough?

A/ We have been practising [short-pitched deliveries] so well with Raghu (throwdown expert D. Raghavendra) and our bowlers. We knew what their bowlers could do, and we had planned accordingly. We were prepared for everything.

Q/ You are young, but you played the senior role when Washington Sundar came out to bat. Talk us through what you told him.

A/ When I am batting, I am very proactive and I keep talking to [my partner]. I like to appreciate the cricket­—if someone is leaving the ball, I say well left or good defence. All these things keep me motivated and involved, too. So, when Washy came, he was pumped up and said, ‘Macha, what should we do? I have to hit, etc.’ I told him to take a chill pill, one of us has to stay till the end. I told him to decide what to do, because both of us wanted to go for the win. Either you go for the runs or I have to go. He responded, ‘I will go for the runs, you anchor the innings.’ That is how it started.

Q/ Do you remember anything that was said to you immediately after the win? Or is it still all hazy?

A/ It is still hazy. When we won the match, I was standing there and everybody was rushing towards me. I had no idea what was happening. I looked around, seeing everyone jumping and told myself, ‘Something good has happened today, boss. It feels good.’

Q/ Have you ever experienced this before in other series?

A/ This was the biggest moment of my life! To help win the series decider outside India was a different feeling for me.

Q/ What was different about this series that you all got together and executed plans so well?

A/ I think it was difficult for everyone because once Virat [Kohli] bhaiyya left and [Mohammed] Shami bhai got injured, there were so many things happening. But it was an opportunity also for someone else to do something good for the team. It was an opportunity for others to stand up and help the team win the match. You will not get a better time to win a match for India.

Q/ At the end of the day, one could say Rishabh Pant has grown a lot, courtesy this Australia series?

A/ No no, I still have black hair, I am still young! This series made me realise I am maturing.

Q/ There is not enough time to get over the tiredness or work on your wicketkeeping before the England series starts. How will you manage all this?

A/ Since my return, I have been training at the club. I guess one has to work on the mindset since you cannot work on your skills as much in such a short time. You just need to remember what else you need to do or add to your game.

Q/ How do you see England as an opposition?

A/ They are a very strong team, but as the Indian team, we have the self-belief. We know if we play to our potential, we can win the series.