It Is a Dream Come True To Get Selected For Tests: Rishabh Pant

The limited overs cricket have been well fought over by the two teams, but now it is time for England and India to shed their colours and put on their whites for the gruelling five-match Test series, beginning from August 1 at Edgbaston.

Cricket news: Pant has enjoyed making his preparations for the red ball cricket

When the Indian squad for the first three Test matches was declared, there were some interesting changes to the lineup, which were either tactical or forced changes.

The most interesting change was the inclusion of the 20-year-old wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in the 18-member squad as a backup wicketkeeper.

Pant has been in the form of his life right from the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and also performed when he toured England as a part of the India A squad.

Seeing his consistency and his ability to adapt to the required conditions and play accordingly, he was rewarded with a call to the senior team, ahead of regular backup wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

In an interview ahead of the Test series, Pant has said that there is not much difference between white ball or red ball cricket as everything depends on the correct shot selection.

He also mentioned that the ‘duke’ ball swings more than the ‘Kookaburra’ ball, giving advantage to fast bowlers, and also believes that if a batsman watches the ball carefully he can pass through the tough 5 days of a Test match.

Pant said, He said, “I reckon there isn’t too much difference, but it has got more to do with shot selection. In red ball cricket, with the field placements, you can look around; take your time, because you have five days to play. Whereas in limited overs cricket you have limited number of balls to play and score.”

“I have so far enjoyed my preparation with red ball cricket. The Duke ball swings a lot when you’re here in England and initially when I started playing here with India A, I realized that the swing will come a lot into play in these conditions,” he added.

He also said how he enjoyed batting with Ajinkya Rahane, one of the best Test batsman of India, as they both build two good partnership against England Lions a week ago.

Pant said, “In the game against England Lions, India A were not in a good position. We had lost four to five wickets and Ajju bhaiya (Ajinkya Rahane) and I were batting and I had to play according to the situation. So, I thought I’m going to take my own time and get set because in red ball cricket that’s what you do – you need to take your own time and play as per the situation.”