‘Three figures are just a number..’ – Rishabh Pant shares his thoughts on missing hundred against Bangladesh

Rishabh Pant was dismissed on 93 in the first innings of the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur, missing out on his sixth Test century. On Day 2, India were at 72/3 when Pant arrived at the crease. The visitors soon lost Virat Kohli (24) before Pant and Shreyas Iyer (87) played a counter-attacking knock to take India past Bangladesh’s total of 227 runs. In the end, India managed to take an 87-run lead, despite Pant and Iyer missing out on centuries.

Before the start of play on Day 3, former India women’s team captain Anjum Chopra questioned Pant on his mindset, particularly when batting in the 90s. In response, Pant stated that he is more concerned with helping the team than with the landmarks.

“As an individual, I don’t think about the landmark so much. Three figures are just a number for me, I try to play out the situation most of the times. If it happens, it’s good. If it doesn’t, can’t control that. As an individual, I am fine because I knew I was batting well. I didn’t capitalize and I missed my hundred, but happy that Shreyas Iyer and I got our team out of trouble,” Pant told Anjum before the start of play on Day 3.

Notably, Pant was out in the ‘nervous 90s’ for the sixth time in his career. Pant has five centuries and 11 fifties to his name in the game’s longest format so far.

Bangladesh vs India second Test

As for the game, thanks to Pant and Iyer’s brilliant half-centuries, India managed a lead of 87 runs in the first innings. However, Bangladesh did well after that, scoring 231 runs on a fairly difficult track. Thanks to half-centuries from Zakir Hasan and Litton Das, they set a target of 145 for India to chase down.

For the visitors, Axar Patel bagged three wickets in the game, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj also took two each. Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat also took a wicket each in the innings.