Rishabh Pant has established a reputation within the cricketing world for his lively and frequent chatter from behind the wicket. Pant's non stop stump mic antics do two things, entertain the fans to fullest and irritates the batter on strike. However, Pant has revealed the reason behind his stump mic chatter habit.
Pant has been in exceptional form in the ongoing Test series in England, highlighted by his twin centuries in the first Test at Leeds. He continued his impressive performance with a fiery half-century in India's second innings at Edgbaston, which contributed to the massive 608-run target set for England. Eventually, India ended up winning the match by 336 runs. Pant made a remarkable return to the Indian team in September 2024, following an almost two-year rehabilitation period after a serious car accident. Despite the setback, he has clearly retained his magical touch and remains an indispensable part of the Indian Test squad.
Rishabh Pant lifts lid on his stump mic antics
While his batting exploits have garnered significant attention in England, Pant's characteristic antics behind the stumps are an ever-present feature of Indian Test cricket. His talkative presence, often captured by the stump microphone, adds a special and intriguing element to the experience of watching Test cricket. His witty remarks directed at the batters and his uncanny way of offering advice to the bowlers frequently lead to dismissals. However, his chatter also sometimes results in playful banter and occasional arguments with the opposing batsmen. Given that Indians are not typically known for excessive sledging or talking, especially during the era of MS Dhoni when it became a less common occurrence, the question of how Pant developed this habit remains a popular one.
Pant revealed the origin of his constant chatter from behind the wickets ahead of the third Test against England at Lord's. He disclosed that his childhood coach Tarak Sinha, for instilling this skill in him.
"My coach, late Tarak Sinha, taught me to keep talking to yourself. That’s what I have been doing since childhood; it helps me a lot," Pant said at the pre-match press conference ahead of third Test against England.
Pant also offered his perspective on the potential Indian playing XI for the third Test, indicating that Jasprit Bumrah's return to the team is highly likely. In the previous Test at Edgbaston, Akash Deep had filled Bumrah's place and achieved the remarkable feat of becoming only the second Indian bowler to take 10 wickets in a single Test match, contributing significantly to India's largest-ever overseas victory. Additionally, Pant expressed his admiration for the young captain, Shubman Gill, who has taken over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma and is leading the team with remarkable command.
"When you have good camaraderie off the field, communication is better on the ground," said Pant. "Jasprit Bumrah was not playing but Siraj and Akash Deep stood up," he added.
Talking about their track record at the iconic Lord's stadium, over the 19 Test encounters played at the historic venue since their first meeting in 1932, the Indian team has only managed to secure win on three occasions. Four matches have concluded in a draw, while England have won the remaining twelve ties.