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“We should have chased it…”: Rishabh Pant sums up India’s shock collapse vs South Africa

Aakash Saini

Rishabh Pant & Temba Bavuma [Source: AFP Photos]Rishabh Pant & Temba Bavuma [Source: AFP Photos]

Team India failed to chase down 124 against South Africa on Day 3 of the series-opening first Test match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In the absence of regular captain Shubman Gill, who was off the field courtesy of his neck spasm, the Indian cricket team crumbled for just 93 in 35 overs to fall 30 runs short of their target and go 0-1 down in the series.

Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant assessed India’s shock collapse at the Eden Gardens, and also praised South African captain Temba Bavuma and all-rounder Corbin Bosch for frustrating India with a fighting partnership earlier on Day 3.

Rishabh Pant owns up as pressure boils over in shock defeat

Indian wicketkeeper-batter and comeback man Rishabh Pant was tasked to lead the team in the absence of regular skipper Shubman Gill since Day 2 of the series-opening first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. After Team India failed to chase down their mere 124-run target, the cricketer assessed the collapse, and praised South African duo of Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch for frustrating the hosts with a fighting partnership.

Rishabh Pant also vowed a stronger comeback from Team India ahead of the second Test. While speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, he said:

“After a game like this, you can't dwell into it too much. We should have been able to chase it. The pressure kept on building. We didn't capitalise enough. Temba and Bosch had a good stand in the morning. That partnership between them hurt us. There was help from the wicket. A score of 120 can be tricky on these surfaces. But having said that, we should be able to soak in the pressure and capitalise. We haven't thought on the improvements but we will come back strong for sure.”

Rishabh Pant himself managed to score just two from 13 balls before he became one of Simon Harmer’s four victims of the innings.

Nonetheless, India will now face South Africa in the series-deciding second Test from November 22 onwards in Guwahati.