The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has felt disappointed for missing out from the 15-member Team India squad for the upcoming 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. However, he is now trying to move on and focus on his better performances.
On 15th April, the national selectors for BCCI have announced the 15-man Team India squad for the upcoming World Cup. Pant has missed out that squad, but he is in the standby squad for this tournament.
However, many experts are unhappy not to see Pant in this World Cup squad. Many experts believe that the young wicketkeeper deserves to play in the upcoming World Cup.
Recently, the youngster has revealed his feeling for missing out the World Cup opportunity.
He told India Today, “I was disappointed. Obviously because every player dreams of representing India and playing a World Cup for the country is even more special. I was disappointed but as a cricketer and as a professional, I know that there’s no point in being disappointed. And I try to move on. I am focused on performing in the opportunities that I get. That’s about it.”
England and Wales will host the upcoming Cricket World Cup from 30th May to 14th July. The two-time World Cup winners India will begin their journey in this tournament on 5th June against South Africa at Southampton.
I see the positive side:
Meanwhile, Pant is trying to move on and improve his game.
He further added, “World Cup selection, as I said, was disappointing. But if I keep thinking about it and don’t try to improve and move on, it makes things more difficult for me. Well, I am seeing the positive side and I am looking at what can be done now. I have a few IPL matches remaining. I am looking to perform in those matches. Only if you perform well, as a person, you can be confident.”
Rishabh Pant is currently busy in the ongoing IPL 2019 where he is serving for Delhi Capitals (DC). At present, he is the second most run-scorer for his side in this season as he has scored 336 runs in 11 innings with an average of 37.33.
Though he hasn’t performed consistently in this IPL season, the left-handed batsman has already scored two half-centuries.
Recently, he played an impressive firing knock of unbeaten 78 runs off just 36 balls against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Jaipur that helped his team to chase down the 192 runs target successfully.
If people are criticising me, I tell them to come forward and help me
Talking about his criticism, Pant doesn’t focus on the outside matters. However, he tries to improve himself through direct suggestions.
The young man said, “If people are criticising me, I tell them to come forward and help me. A lot of people have directly told me where I needed to improve. I have taken most of their suggestions. However, as a player, I don’t try to focus on what people are saying from the outside. I have trust in my game.”
Rishabh Pant made his international debut in February 2017 through the T20I cricket. However, he made his Test and ODI debuts in the last year. He has already played nine Tests, five ODIs and 15 T20Is where he has scored 696, 93 and 233 runs respectively.
The young man has already scored two centuries and two nineties in Test cricket.