Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds
Two days before the start of the first of the five-Test series between India and England, the Indian team vice-captain Rishabh Pant confirmed that new skipper Shubman Gill will bat at No. 4, taking the spot from Virat Kohli. The latter has hung up his Test boots.
When asked about the batting combination, Pant revealed that while the discussion around the No. 3 spot is still on, Gill is going to bat at No. 4 while Pant himself will bat at No. 5.
“There is still discussion going on, who is going to play (at number) three. But definitely four and five are fixed. I think Shubman is going to bat at No. 4,” Pant said at the press conference on Wednesday. “I am going to stick to No. 5 as of now. And the rest, we are going to keep on discussing about that.”
With Kohli and Rohit Sharma gone from Tests, all eyes will be on a young Indian team that will look forward to ending an 18-year drought on English soil. Pant said the young leadership group has been aiming to create a relaxed environment while also helping the younger players adapt to the challenging English conditions.
“See, the idea is very simple. Obviously, it’s a new start for us. Yes definitely, big people have left. Yes, there will be a gap, but at the same time, what we can do is, it’s an opportunity for us to build a new culture from there or take a culture forward from there. I think being in a great frame of mind, helping the new players to learn and improve themselves in overseas conditions. I think that is something we look forward to,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman. “Sharing knowledge with each other, having that care and love in the dressing room for each other. That is something we are looking forward to do.”
He added: “Personally, I’m in a good headspace. Whenever I play cricket, I look to contribute from my side. Like, being on the field, maybe batting, fielding, keeping, I just try to contribute as much as I can from my side. And that’s the kind of thought process with which I play cricket all the time. And nothing changes for me coming to England.”
The vice-captain spoke about how he gels well with the captain. “Shubman and I have a really good camaraderie off the field, especially off the field. If you are good friends off the field, it eventually comes on the field. It’s always better for (our) cricket. And that is something I have always believed. Me and him, we gel really well together. We keep on having conversations and the kind of comfort zone we have with each other. I think that is really going to be special for us.”
Richard Robinson, the curator at Headingley is planning to leave 8mm of grass on the pitch, although beneath the grass cover, it is rock solid.
“The wicket is looking pretty green, but at the same time, coming to England, thinking about green wicket is nothing different for us,” Pant said. “Like, yes, we have already prepared for that. At the same time, you know, both teams have to play on the same wicket. So, whosoever is going to play better cricket is going to win eventually.”
When asked about the team environment following the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad which took 270 lives, Pant said all the members of the team have a bit of sadness in their hearts but will want to play good cricket to put a smile on the faces of the fans back home.
“For the country as a whole, because of the air crash, there is a mood of sadness,” Pant said. “I think that will be reflected in the game here. And perhaps that gives you perhaps a sense of wanting to make people happy because of the air crash. See, what happened in the aircraft, I think the whole India was saddened, disheartened. But at the same time, the only thing from our side, we’re going to be sticking with them. How we can make India happy again. Obviously, the emotion is always going to be high. Because of what happened in the crash, but at the same time, we’re going to put our best foot forward for the country. How we can make them happy, that’s added responsibility always.”