Rishabh Pant: 'Back on the Field with Indian Jersey on, Different Feel Altogether'

Rishabh Pant is excited to be back in the Indian men’s cricket team and the wicket-keeper-batter is looking forward to shining at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a video on their social media as the 26-year-old sweeted it out in the nets.

Pant made his comeback to competitive cricket after a gap of 15 months in the recently concluded IPL. Despite doubts over his fitness after recovering from multiple injuries sustained in a horrific car crash, Pant not only captained Delhi Capitals in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season but also donned the wicketkeeping gloves successfully.

Pant, who missed the last edition of the tournament due to injuries, scored 446 runs — the highest for the franchise in the edition. He also scored three half-centuries and played with an impressive strike rate of 155.40. Apart from batting, Pant was phenomenal with his glove work behind the stumps, shutting the doubts over his agility following a long injury layoff.

“Getting back on the field with the Indian jersey on, it’s a different feel altogether and this is something I missed a lot,” Pant said in the video.

“Seeing the teammates, spending time, having fun with them, enjoying having conversations. Really enjoying it. We are used to playing in certain countries but this is a different prospect. It has opened up a different channel for the sport because I feel cricket is growing around the world. Getting it to a country like USA, getting the exposure for cricket and USA cricket as well,” he said.

“New pitches are there, everything is getting set up. Just getting used to the conditions I think the sun is a little more brighter over here. So we are getting used to it. Hopefully, I make it count and hopefully make it better from here,” he added.

India is set to play their lone warm-up game against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 1.

India’s T20 World Cup campaign begins on June 5 against Group A opponents Ireland in New York, followed by a highly-anticipated clash against Pakistan on June 9. India will then face co-hosts USA on June 12 in New York, before flying out to Florida to face Canada on June 15 to wrap up their Group A league matches.

Stay updated with the latest from T20 World Cup 2024. Explore T20 World Cup Match Today. Check Updated list of Highest-run getters and Highest Wicket-Takers In T20 World Cup 2024. Check T20 World Cup 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours , Most Fifties And Most HundredsIn T20 World Cup 2024.