There is a lot to give back to domestic cricket: Rishabh Pant

Ahead of the Duleep Trophy 2024, which opens India's 2024-25 domestic season, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant discussed his return to red-ball cricket and expectations from Duleep Trophy 2024. Pant spoke on how cricketers need to give a lot back to domestic cricket and that he is excited for his domestic assignments.

Pant, who returned to competitive cricket after 12 months post horrific car accident in 2022 December, got grand welcome in IPL 2024. After recently-cocluded IPL, the young cricketer also played his part well in India's winning T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

Pant spoke to JioCinema about his comeback to red-ball cricket, “I think it is an amazing feeling for me, also because when I met with the accident two years ago, I used to always think about when I will be able to play for India again. In the last six months, I played IPL, and we also won the World Cup. It’s a great feeling as I had always dreamt of winning the World Cup, since I was a kid. Now again I am returning to red ball cricket and will play my first match in Duleep trophy almost after more than two years.”

Pant further explained the importance of playing domestic cricket, specifically the Duleep trophy, “I think it is very important for us to play domestic cricket because as a cricketer match practice is always very important. Especially coming back to domestic cricket, the youngsters also learn a lot of things from us, they see you playing here, even after playing international cricket. There is a lot to give back to domestic cricket. It also gives us the opportunity to share all the learnings and experiences from international cricket with our colleagues, especially with the young players and newcomers; it gives them a huge boost since we all have reached here from playing domestic cricket.”

The wicketkeeper-batter spoke about their preparation for the upcoming India-Bangladesh series, "Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka perform well in Asian conditions because they are accustomed to the wickets. However, as the Indian cricket team, we focus solely on our own standards and how we can improve. Regardless of the opposition, we strive to play with the same intensity and give our hundred percent every single day."

Pant gave an insight into his mindset in International cricket, "I believe the pressure will always be there because in international cricket, you can't take any series lightly. The margin between winning and losing is very small, and nowadays, the gap between international teams isn't much either. However, we have to give our hundred percent regardless, and that mindset has worked well for me so far."