I plan to visit NCA to prepare for turning pitches: Rishabh Pant

Riding high on confidence with his maiden Test hundred against England in the 5th Test at Kennington Oval, London, Rishabh Pant is in no mood to sit and relax. The youngster is planning to refine his wicket-keeping skills for the 2-match home Test series against West Indies starting from October 04.

Rishabh Pant made his Test debut at Trent Bridge in the 3rd Test against England as the 291st Test player for India, and he did it in style. Facing just his second delivery of the debut innings, the southpaw slammed leg-spinner Adil Rashid for a huge maximum to open his account in Test cricket. He not only became the first Indian to open his Test account with a six but also went on to become the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test hundred in England.

On the final day of his third Test at Kennington Oval, Rishabh Pant smashed a six of Adil Rashid to complete his maiden Test hundred and surpassed MS Dhoni who held the record for the 76* against England at Lord’s in 2007. It was pleasing to watch the Delhi youngster hitting a six to the same bowler to complete his maiden test century against whom he opened his Test account with a maximum. Getting a call on the back of an impressive IPL season where he amassed 684 runs in 14 matches for the Delhi Daredevils including one century and eight fifties, Rishabh Pant doesn’t want to lose a single opportunity. With Wriddhiman Saha still not fully fit, Pant will be the first choice for the wicketkeeper in the two-match test series against West Indies.

Pant had a mixed tour of England regarding wicketkeeping. He conceded 76 byes in three test matches in England and was criticised by many over his inability to dealing with balls deviating quickly by Indian fast bowlers.

“Maybe all those byes were not my fault, but if someone is not watching the match, he will look only at the scorecard. Only those who saw the match would know that some of those were out of my reach.”

Risabh Pant expressed himself while talking about the England experience. However, showing confidence in the youngster, India’s chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said that Rishabh Pant will be afforded wicket keeping training at the National Cricket Academy.

In response, Pant expressed his gratitude to MSK Prasad and desired to excel and is planning to visit NCA ahead of the first Test against West Indies.

“In India, the wickets are expected to be different from England or maybe like the one at the Oval. I plan to visit NCA before the series and keep on tracks where there will be roughs,” said Rishabh Pant. “I am very happy that he (MSK Prasad) wants to help me out with my keeping. As a youngster, it is my duty to keep learning, improve at every given opportunity. That should be my endeavour.” he added.

Rishabh Pant is currently representing Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018.