Rishabh Pant reacts after 'emotional' return to Test cricket
What's the story
India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has made a triumphant return to Test cricket following a severe car accident.
His comeback was marked by a match-winning century against Bangladesh in the first Test at Chepauk.
This was Pant's first appearance in the Indian team whites after more than 600 days of recovery.
Prior to his accident, he had already established himself as a formidable force in this format.
Match-winning performance
Pant's century steers India to victory
Pant's performance in the second innings was nothing short of spectacular, as he scored a fluent 109 off 128 balls.
His innings included 13 fours and four sixes.
Alongside Shubman Gill (119 off 176 balls), Pant added a significant 167 runs for the fourth wicket, propelling India from a precarious position at 67/3 to a commanding total of 287/4 declared in their second innings.
Emotional return
Pant expresses emotions after comeback
Following his impressive performance, Pant expressed his joy and love for playing in Chennai.
He described the game as an emotional experience, stating that he feels most at home in Test cricket.
"Definitely it was emotional, I was looking to score runs in each and every game. Coming back to Test cricket where I belong the most, being on the field gives me pleasure more than anything else," he said.
Strategy
Pant's batting approach and partnership with Gill
Pant also discussed his batting approach during the match, emphasizing his ability to adapt to different situations.
He highlighted the importance of building partnerships when the team is under pressure.
"I don't know what people say outside, I tried to read the situation in my own way, when you are 30-3 you need to stitch a partnership and that's what I did with Gill," he explained.
Comeback trail
Pant's journey back to professional cricket
Pant's last Test appearance was in December 2022 against Bangladesh.
Post that match, he suffered a car accident that kept him away from professional cricket for an extended period.
He made his comeback by leading the Delhi Capitals in the 2024 Indian Premier League and later played for India B in this year's Duleep Trophy.