“Missing out on World Cup Really Affected Me” – Rishabh Pant

On Monday night, Rishabh Pant helped guide the Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals. Interestingly, Pant confessed that for a long time, his mind was full of thoughts surrounding the World Cup 2019 selection.

Sadly, Rishabh Pant was not among the names in the 15-member India squad for the World Cup 2019. Instead, Dinesh Karthik got the nod as second choice wicketkeeper after MS Dhoni.

According to BCCI chief selector M.S.K. Prasad, Dinesh Karthik’s inclusion was down to experience and superior wicket-keeping skills.

But then, Rishabh Pant was on a mission to show the BCCI what they were missing out on. Pant was an absolute terror for the Rajasthan bowlers at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium. He smashed an unbeaten 78* runs from 36 balls, including four 6s and six 4s. In the process, Delhi are now sitting pretty at the top of the IPL 2019 points table.

That day, the Delhi Capitals had a hefty target of 192 to chase, courtesy a century from Ajinkya Rahane. But that all went in vain as the wicketkeeper-batsman teamed up with Prithvi Shaw for an 84-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Though Shaw’s wicket tumbled later, Rishabh Pant held the fort and helped his team register their seventh IPL 2019 win.

Speaking in the post-match ceremony after a celebratory hug from DC mentor, Sourav Ganguly, an ecstatic Pant breathed, “I am feeling lovely. To make your team win in an important match is a good feeling.”

“I won’t lie, the World Cup selection has been on my mind,” said Pant. “I focused on my process, I trusted my prowess and it worked for me.”

However, before Monday’s game, Pant’s last high score was against the Mumbai Indians back in March. Coincidentally, he scored an unbeaten 78, there as well, though it was off 27 balls. But consistency was a key vice as his run tally was 25, 11, 39, 5, 18, 46, 23, 7 and 6 in the matches after the Mumbai clash.

One would suspect that that was what cost Rishabh Pant the honour of playing in the World Cup. But the good news is that he is still young and will have plenty of opportunities in the future.