“Cricket to behtar honi chahiye na” – Rishabh Pant on helping Bangladesh set the field on Day 3 of IND vs BAN 2024 1st Test
Rishabh Pant recalled former India captain Ajay Jadeja's words of wisdom while speaking about the viral moment on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The wicketkeeper-batter said Ajay keeps discussing about improving the game regardless of the opposition.
Pant said that Bangladesh had placed two fielders near the same position so he asked the bowler to relocate one of the two fielders from mid-off to mid-wicket. The incident happened during the 35th over of India’s second innings bowled by Taskin Ahmed.
In a video doing the rounds on X, Rishabh Pant said (via Jio Cinema):
“Firstly, Ajay bhai se yahi baat hoti rehti hai ki jese of the field bhi baat hoti hay to bolte hain yaar cricket to behtar honi chahiye na, kabhi par bhi khelo, chahe dusri team khele ya khud khelo. To waha pe fielder nahi tha, wo do fielder ek hi jagah khade they to maine ussko bola yaar ek fielder idhar laga lo.”
Translated version:
“Firstly, I keep having discussions with Ajay Jadeja and we keep talking about improving the game (cricket) whether it’s us or the opposition regardless of the venue. There was no fielder (at mid-wicket) and two fielders were near the same position (at mid-off), so I told the bowler (Taskin Ahmed) to place a fielder at mid-wicket.”
Ajay Jadeja recently mentored Afghanistan at the 2023 ODI World Cup. He nearly helped them reach the semi-finals of the tournament. The Asian team scripted history by beating defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the 50-over ICC event. They finished sixth with four wins in nine round-robin format games.
“It was emotional” – Rishabh Pant on scoring century on Test comeback vs Bangladesh
Rishabh Pant further expressed gratitude after scoring his sixth Test century on his comeback to Test cricket, having returned to competitive cricket this year. The left-handed batter smashed 109 runs in the second innings after returning to the format for the first time since December 2022 following a car accident. He said (via Cricbuzz):
“Definition a lot special, firstly I love playing in Chennai and secondly after injury, I was looking to play all three formats, this was my first match in this format and hopefully I did better. 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.”
“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. To do it with a guy who I have a great relationship with is special.”
Notably, Rishabh Pant shared a 167-run partnership with another centurion, Shubman Gill, in the second innings as India set a mammoth 515-run target for Bangladesh. The hosts won the game by 280 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the Test series.