Pant took them to tea for the loss of one more wicket, batting in a way he normally doesn’t. India were 107 for 4 after 50 overs.
“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,” he said. “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.”
“I think it’s a little bit not very difficult,” Pant said as he spoke about prioritising survival over strokeplay. “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.
Pant is in no mood to sacrifice his gifts entirely. “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.”
Rohit decision was a management call – Pant
Bumrah who took over in Rohit’s stead had a simple message for India. “I think mostly the message is like be positive all the time don’t think what has already happened just give your best on the field,” Pant said, “And that’s what you want from your captain like being in a positive frame of mind and keep moving the game forward each and every day.”
“I think there is not much to say because technology is one part which as a cricketer you can’t control,” Pant said, “But I feel whatever decision we make on the field it has to stay with the on-field umpire that’s the only thing until unless it’s so conclusive to change the decision I think we should stay with on-field umpire rest is umpire’s decision end of the day I can’t challenge that every day but technology can be a little better I guess.”
