'Sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket' - Rishabh Pant on defensive knock in Sydney

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 witnessed another collapse as India were bowled out for just 185 after opting to bat first in the fifth and final Test in Sydney. India's batting struggles have been a constant in the series, with the team crossing the 300-run mark only twice in the series.

While most of the batters struggled on the first day of the New Year's Test, India had a chance to put a competitive score with Rishabh Pant looking good. However, he failed to convert his innings into a bigger one and was dismissed by Scott Boland for 40 off 98.

Pant’s batting style and approach has been questioned throughout the series, especially after his failed attempts to play aggressive shots in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne at moments which eventually changed the flow of the game. Pant opened up on his effort in Sydney where he looked composed and patient throughout until the delivery of his dismissal.

Also Read: Reports: Tension in Indian dressing room prevalent from beginning of Australia tour

“I think in this innings I was not in a frame of mind where I wanted to take charge of the game because the wicket was doing too much, and the kind of situation we were in and while playing inside I felt like I could do like play a little bit of defensive cricket. Yes, there is a time to attack but when you have to feel that from inside. I can't just pre-meditate that I'm going to play this way whatever the game asked me to do on that given day that's what I try to do and that was the mindset," Pant told reporters after the end of day's play.

When asked about whether it was difficult to adopt the defensive game by curbing his natural methods, Pant said: "I think it's a little bit, [but] not very difficult. Yes, initial part would be very difficult because when you see a ball which you can hit but sometimes you have to play more sensible cricket, I would say. Like there might be 50-50 chance which I could have taken early on in this innings but sometimes you have to play more secure cricket especially the way [SCG] wicket was behaving we knew that if we get one more wicket here we might lose two-three in a quick succession so that was the idea behind the way I was playing and last match there was nothing much to do the kind of target we had I think I had to play that [defensively] way so I think pretty fine with the way I'm playing."

"I think mostly you want to back whatever the way you have played game but eventually you gotta keep on evolving. There is, I feel, there is not one way to play cricket but whatever comes more naturally is always better but you've got to find that balance between playing aggressive cricket and having that balance when you play all those shots and that's what I'm trying to do.

"Just trying to make most out of whatever the way I'm playing and just keep it simple not to overthink because you know when you're not having best of the tours you might overthink too much but I just try to keep it simple and give my 200% on the field and that's the idea about playing cricket for me," he added.

Rishabh Pant’s performance comparison 2020-21 and 2024-25

Unlike the last tour in Australia in 2020-21, the ongoing one has been rather underwhelming for Pant as he has managed only 194 runs at an average 24.25, with the 40-run knock in Sydney being his highest score. The performance is in stark contrast to his to the previous tour, where he was the highest run-scorer for India with 274 runs at a brilliant average of 68.50 in five innings, including a historic 89 at the Gabba in India's series-sealing win.