India keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has taken giant strides in the last few months. From being out of the squad the white-ball squads and out of playing eleven from the Test side, the left-hander has turned his career upside down, so much that he has now become indisputably the first-choice keeper-batsman across formats.
Also, despite the presence of multiple senior international stalwarts, Rishabh Pant was given the captaincy of the Delhi Capitals for the IPL 2021 in the absence of the injured Shreyas Iyer.
Last year, by this time, Rishabh Pant was replaced by KL Rahul in India’s white-ball side as the ‘keeper-batsman, and wasn’t a clear choice in the Test side, at least in Indian conditions due to his sub-standard wicketkeeping.
Now, ahead of the last day of the WTC Final in Southampton, the 23-year-old, being a core member of the side, speaks about the confidence he has gained and the mental peace he is in, from recording success in the past few months in Australia and the home matches against England.
“I think I am a much more confident player than what I was last year because as an individual when you come to a different platform, especially from domestic level to international cricket, you need some time to adjust to that level,” Rishabh Pant said during an interaction with the ICC.
“I have been only working on my mindset of what I can do differently from where I have left and I think I am in a much better mental space,” he added.
Since childhood you have been thinking as a dream that can I make my country win: Rishabh Pant
Speaking about the epic heist in Brisbane, where’s the southpaw’s incredible 89* knock helped India breached the fortress Gabba and register a series win, a ‘proud’ Rishabh Pant said that he saw an opportunity and cashed on it.
“Personally I am very happy that I was able to contribute in the winning cause. Because as a player since childhood you have been thinking as a dream that can I make my country win and that’s the opportunity you get and you make your country proud. So as a player and an individual that’s the proudest thing you can do,” the youngster stated.