NEW DELHI: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant expressed his hope that he won’t receive the “badges of honour” in his upcoming longer-format innings after overcoming his injuries to lead the score with 40 on the first day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Pant endured injuries all over his body to earn a valiant 40 from 98 balls on Friday, which included three fours and a six, as Australia bowled relentlessly.
“It’s mostly because of the pitch, but at the same time as an individual, when you are not having the best of tours, you want to apply yourself more than ever, and that’s what I did. Hopefully I got little bit out of it – not what I wanted 100%. But something for the team is always better.”
“Definitely it’s not the same kind of trauma or anything (as compared to injuries suffered in car accident in December 2022). But it still hurts – just got to know today that these are badges of honour. Hopefully in the next few innings I don’t get these ‘badges of honour’,” said Pant to Channel Seven ahead of day two’s play.
The Lucknow Super Giants will field Pant in the 2025 Indian Premier League after the team acquired him for a record INR 27 crore in the Jeddah mega auction last year.
Pant believes playing for former Australia opener and head coach Justin Langer should be an amazing experience.
“It will be pretty awesome, because what I have heard from people is, he’s very passionate about the game. I haven’t worked with him a lot, but the kind of conversations we had – just the kind of small chats, it has always been positive.”
“Just talking around small things and the way he talks about the game is, it’s very passionate and wants to make that difference. Just like me, he likes individuals who want to make a difference every day and give their 200% on the field.”
