India vs South Africa 2nd Test: Rishabh Pant will lead Team India in the second Test between India and South Africa. In a press conference on Friday, he confirmed that the Indian team management has finalised a replacement for Shubman Gill, who has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa due to a neck injury.
However, he did not reveal the player’s name. During this, he also made a big statement regarding the Guwahati pitch. Let us tell you that after the defeat in the Kolkata Test, there was a lot of uproar over the pitch. In such a situation, everyone’s eyes are on the Guwahati pitch.
Pant praised Gill
Ahead of the second Test, Rishabh Pant said, “We have decided who will replace Shubman. Whoever plays knows that he is playing. Shubman was desperate to play. He showed courage even when his body was not allowing him, and that is the spirit you want to see. I am talking to Gill every day. I came to know about the captaincy last evening.”
Talking about the team combination, Pant said, “I think sometimes it’s a balance when it comes to team combination. You have to see whether a specialist player is helping you more or an all-rounder is giving you more stability in the team. So it’s all about finding that team balance and the way you want to play cricket.”
Pant, who is set to make his captaincy debut in Guwahati, described the venue as special to him, as he made his ODI debut at the same ground. “First of all, I would say this ground is very special to me. I made my ODI debut here, and now I’m going to play my first Test captaincy match here. So, it will always be special to me. And I think it’s special to the whole of Guwahati,” he said.
Pant’s view on Guwahati pitch
Pant also expressed confidence in the Guwahati pitch and hoped it would offer a better contest than the Kolkata one in the second Test. “Regarding the pitch, I think this wicket will play better. Definitely, it’s a better wicket to bat on. Obviously, it will eventually turn after a few days. But it’s going to be a good contest,” he said.