Rishabh Pant Opens Up About His Banter With Matthew Wade During The Boxing Day Test

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has said that he enjoyed every bit of banter between him and Aussie opener Matthew Wade during the home sides’ second innings on the third day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Pant was at his chirpiest best behind the stumps throughout the Test match and his constant banter with Matthew Wade was one of the talking points of the third day.

Pant kept giggling behind the stumps, which at one point, infuriated the Australian opener as the southpaw gritted it out in the middle against a relentless Indian attack.

“You’re looking at yourself on the big screen again? Very funny watching yourself on the screen,” Matthew Wade was caught on stump-mic saying.

The Australian opener went as far as taunting Rishabh Pant on his weight. However, Pant kept giggling and did not respond much. The Indian stumper later revealed that he did not respond as he did not want to give the Australian a ‘concentration conversation’.

“I enjoyed every bit of that but I think Wade was probably looking for some sort of discussion or banter so that he could concentrate more, but I didn’t want to give that to him,” Rishabh Pant said.

Pant also opened up about the axe that he faced from the team in the first Test, adding that he has been training well and that not getting a chance is a part and parcel of the game.

“I have been training well, practicing well but not getting a chance in the first Test is a part and parcel of the game. It is good to back on the side and try to do well for the team,” he said.

He also talked about the challenges of keeping wickets in Australia and the technical adjustments he has made, especially while standing up to the spinners.

“Keeping in Australia has been good so far and I am working on opening my right and left leg to adjust to the bounce. The key is to give yourself a little more space against Ashwin and Jadeja,” Pant added.

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