I can only think about giving my 100 percent as a player and captain: Rishabh Pant

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has said that as of now, all he can do is concentrate on giving his 100% with the bat and the rest is up to the critics to decide whether he is doing well or not. Pant’s remarks came after the series-deciding fifth T20I against South Africa was washed out due to rain at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 19. The series was drawn at 2-2.

The Delhi cricketer was made the stand-in captain for the just-concluded home series at the very last moment after a groin injury forced KL Rahul to be out of action for a prolonged period of time. Not only did he showcase unimpressive performances with the bat, but even luck was not on his side as far as the toss is concerned, and went on to lose all five of them.

There are a lot of positives: Rishabh Pant

“It might get a little bit frustrating, but there are a lot of positives, especially the way the whole team showed character after the series was 2-0,” Pant said in the post-match presentation. “We are trying to find different ways of winning matches, we are trying to play in a new way. Mistakes will happen, but we are going in the right way,” he added.

“I can only think about giving my 100 percent as a player and captain. It is for you guys to decide on how I am doing as a player and captain, I can only focus on giving my 100 percent every time I go on the field and keep improving,” said Pant further.

As far as the southpaw’s batting performances are concerned, he could only manage scores of 17, 6, 5, and, 29 respectively in the four games. In the fifth T20I, the stand-in captain came out to be bat at number four in the fourth over after the dismissal of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. He got off the mark off the very first delivery that he faced being rain stopped play at the venue. Rishabh Pant would now be hoping to rediscover his mojo with the bat in the upcoming England tour.