India star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant declared on Sunday that it made him nervous to play in his comeback Test ton in Chennai but insisted the fire inside him helped him score the record-equalling sixth Test century.
His return to Test cricket was nothing but spectacular after a near-life-shattering car accident in December 2022. This was the return he and his fans were looking for-made in Chennai. His innings of 109 in the second innings, mixed with attacking strokes, now dressed with well-timed defense, came as a surprise to the Bangladesh bowlers.
Pant admitted he was full of nerves on his return. "I think I was very nervous. I was very jittery, but you know there was some fire inside that I wanted to make it happen, and eventually, I did it, and I'm happy," Pant said in a video posted by BCCI on X.
While his 39-run effort in the first innings was quite short of what he expected himself to achieve, Pant more than made amends in the second, as he formed a crucial 167-run stand with opener Shubman Gill.
Pant thought a lot about his team-mateship with Gill. He believed that the great relationship off the field helped them to be successful in the middle. "When you have a great relationship outside the field, it really helps to bat with that guy. We were just having fun, having chats, talking about the game, and staying relaxed. At the end of the day we both knew what we wanted to do."
"I think the understanding of the game for me is that cricket should improve wherever you play. So I was just trying to help the team that you can set a fielder here, and it was amazing. Actually, I enjoyed it," Pant said with a smile.
Pant's explosive knock coupled with Gill's composed half-century laid the perfect foundation for India's massive 280-run win that put them 1-0 up in the two-match Test series.
Pant became a talking point for his sensational 109-run knock, but also a light-hearted moment caught on the stump mic that sent the fans and commentators into splits.
On the third day of the Test, when Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was changing his field placements during India's second innings, Pant cheekily told the opposition about where to send their fielders. "O bhai, ek idhar aayega (Brother, one fielder should come here). One on midwicket, said Pant while batting in the second innings.
With momentum firmly in their favour, India will look to seal the series in the second and final Test in Kanpur, which begins tomorrow on Friday.
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