"There was no doubt in his mind but we had doubts in our minds" - Ajay Jadeja picks Rishabh Pant as the biggest positive from IND vs BAN 2024 1st Test
Ajay Jadeja has picked Rishabh Pant's comeback as the biggest positive for Team India from the recently concluded first Test against Bangladesh. He noted that Pant's swashbuckling knock dispelled all worries the fans might have had, though the wicketkeeper-batter probably did not have any doubts.
India trounced Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test in Chennai on Sunday, September 22. Pant scored 39 runs off 52 deliveries in India's innings and followed it up with a 128-ball 109 in the second essay.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Jadeja chose Pant's century as India's biggest gain from the first Test.
"If you have to pick just one thing, I will pick Rishabh Pant's knock because it has more emotions attached. It's not that it made a huge difference tactically. I think it was Sanjay's (Manjrekar) line that Rishabh Pant is a rare gem. There are very few rare gems and it also depends on how you use them," he reasoned.
"There was no doubt in his mind but we had doubts in our minds, or the people outside. People who are not rare think average things. There was no doubt in his mind because you have seen it in his game. He hasn't changed his approach. He played the same way he used to play earlier. However, you get an assurance when you score a hundred," the former India captain added.
Ajay Jadeja opined that Pant doesn't play for milestones and had the same approach throughout his innings.
"He showed yesterday (Saturday) as well that numbers don't matter to him. His approach remained the same after scoring a century as well. He could have gotten out earlier as well, a catch was dropped, he was a little lucky, and only brave people get the luck," he observed.
Pant was dropped by Najmul Hossain Shanto off Shakib Al Hasan's bowling on 72. He did not stop attacking even after the reprieve, taking only 24 more balls to reach his century.
"Now that he has got a start like this, he will only get better" - Ajay Jadeja on Rishabh Pant
![Rishabh Pant struck 13 fours and four sixes during his 109-run knock. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/d14ed-17270630995000-1920.jpg?w=500)
During the same discussion, Ajay Jadeja opined that the century will hold Rishabh Pant in good stead.
"I feel the doubts were only in our minds or the fans' minds because when you love someone, you think something wrong should not happen. He is a positive guy. Now that he has got a start like this, he will only get better," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the 26-year-old hasn't yet got to bat in a crunch situation, where he excels the most.
"He has not yet got to bat where you needed him a lot, when you couldn't have saved the game without him. His rarity is that he is always able to perform on the day when it's needed the most. When it's required, this rare gem will shine even more," Jadeja said.
India were in a spot of bother when Pant walked out to bat in both innings. He added 62 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal (56) when India were reduced to 34/3 in the first innings. Pant and Shubman Gill (119*) stitched together a 167-run partnership in the second essay after India were 67/3.