India's stand-in captain Rishabh Pant kept the identity of Shubman Gill's replacement for the second Test against South Africa a secret. Notably, Pant will be leading India after after regular captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the match due to neck injury which he picked in series opener. During the pre-match press conference, Pant was asked about Gill's replacement, to which he said that player is already aware that he will be featuring in the playing XI.
Rishabh Pant on Shubman Gill's replacement for Guwahati Test
The hosts head into this crucial encounter needing a victory to level the two-match series. A loss or a draw would result in India suffering a second consecutive home series defeat against a SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nation, making the upcoming Test a must-win fixture for Pant and his team.
“We have taken into consideration [the problem of] having a lot of left-handers in the batting lineup. We will announce it tomorrow. We have taken it [the decision] because the person who’s going to play, he already knows he’s going to play,” Pant said ahead of the second Test against South Africa, which is slated to start from November 22.
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I don’t want to overthink: Pant on pressure of captaining Team India
The 27-year-old also addressed the pressure of leading the side in the absence of Gill, stating that he does not intend to overthink his role. He also mentioned that he feels honored to lead the country in a Test match for the first time in his career in Guwahati. However, the wicketkeeper-batter admitted that the situation, a one-off game scenario, is not an ideal way for him to take on the captaincy. Despite this, his focus remains on approaching the match without unnecessary complication.
“I don’t want to overthink. We had a tough first Test, and we need to do whatever is required to win. One-off match is not the best scenario for a captain, but I am thankful to the BCCI for giving me this honour. Sometimes, if you think too much about a big occasion, it doesn’t help. I want to keep it a mixture of both. Being conventional helps, but thinking outside the box also works. It’s all about balance. And yes, I definitely back my instincts,” Pant concluded.