Rishabh Pant has revealed the reason behind not getting a chance in the playing eleven for the first tour game against Australia A. The Indian team-management’s decision to keep the wicketkeeper-batsman on bench was a baffling one as Rishabh Pant has been India’s choice for overseas Tests in the last two years or so.
Wriddhiman Saha was in the playing eleven and he made the most of it. After failing to open his account in the first innings, the veteran wicketkeeper scored a fighting fifty in the second innings and helped India avoid a humiliating defeat in the three-day fixture.
Reason behind not playing the first tour game:
Speaking after the second tour game on Sunday, Rishabh Pant explained the reason behind not playing the first tour game. There were speculations that he was not preferred because Saha was India’s choice for the upcoming series. However, the southpaw has revealed that a stiff neck ruled him out of the game.
“This hundred has been a big confidence-booster for me. It’s been a month, I am in Australia but I didn’t get the chance to play in the first practice match because of a stiff neck,” Rishabh Pant told bcci.tv.
“In the first innings here, I was unlucky as I felt the LBW decision was wrong from the umpire. In the second innings, my focus was to spend as much time as possible and the result is I got a good innings under my belt,” he added.
The first Test of the four-match series is scheduled to get underway on December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. It will be a historic occasions as India and Australia will lock horns in a day-night Test for the very first time.