Port of Spain: Young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has often been criticised by many for throwing away his wicket and not playing according to the conditions. However, Pant has insisted that his focus remains just on playing a positive brand of cricket and winning matches for India.
“Obviously, as an individual, I would like to have a big score. But every time I go out there in the middle, I am not focusing on that,” Pant said on the eve of the third ODI between India and West Indies.
“I just want to play positive cricket and win matches for the team. Every match is crucial to me. I want to keep on improving as a cricketer.
After the first ODI got washed out, India took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match as they won the second match by 59 runs (DLS method). And the Men in Blue will have a chance to seal the series when they take on the Jason Holder-led side in the final ODI on Wednesday.
Asked about the environment in the dressing room, Pant said, “Everyone is calm in the dressing room. We are just focusing on the match. We need to win the final ODI and end the series on a high.”
Ever since the World Cup, Pant has been playing at the number four spot in ODIs. However, he has not had much success there. Even in the last ODI, he scored just 20 off 35 balls before getting bowled by Carlos Brathwaite.
Shreyas Iyer, who came in to bat next, scored a 68-ball 71 and provided great support to skipper Virat Kohli who scored a match-winning hundred at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar even said that Iyer should bat at number four and Pant at five.
However, the 21-year-old feels that currently, the team management is giving chances to every individual in the squad and looking for a settled middle-order.
“We are not experimenting (with the middle order). We are just giving chance to every one whosoever is in the team,” said Pant.
“Everyone is confident in their position because the team management is supporting them.”
Talking about the pitch conditions on offer in West Indies, Pant said, “The wicket is on the slower side. It’s not like a flat wicket. So, you need to give yourself time and then score.”
