This is probably one of the funniest moments with the host as Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant gave a sneak peek to the fans about the fun banter between him and his teammates. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, known for his brilliance on the field and sharp wit, joked about the quirky challenge of making out Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s quintessential Mumbai-style language.

Though Pant knows what Rohit means with his on-field gestures, he conceded that his captain’s off-field banter often does leave him somewhat baffled. “I understand what he is saying on the ground. However, I don’t understand much when it comes to off the field,” Rishabh Pant quipped with a dash of humour.

Apart from his fun-filled stories about Rohit, Pant also shared his teasing attempts to sledge former skipper and batting mainstay Virat Kohli as part of an IPL 2024 contest between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The match saw no participation from Pant as he was serving a suspension for DC’s third slow over-rate offence this season, yet he managed to be at his teasing best.

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Behind the screen, Rishabh Pant was doing all he could to put Kohli off his game; adding some much-needed comic relief to the tightly fought match. Though DC lost the match by 47 runs, the moment was a high point in this year’s IPL drama. Pant also spoke about his equation with former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri and spoke highly of Shastri’s coaching style. Later, the wicketkeeper-batter revealed that Shastri gave him a lot of freedom.

Rishabh Pant explained, “Rather than telling me not to do something, he would give me a better option. I believe in that approach. Rather than someone saying this cannot be done.” He also thanked Shastri for allowing him to play the reverse sweep against off-spinners, which he admitted helped him conquer the challenge in Test cricket.

Pant thus is likely to make his Test return during the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh at home, which will be his first appearance since he last played against the Tigers in December 2022.

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The BCCI announced the 16-member squad for the series starting on 19th September in Chennai on Sunday, 8th September. Pant earned his recall to the Test side after a fine effort in the Duleep Trophy 2024. It came in the form of a brilliant second-innings fifty for India B against India A at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Eventually, India B won the opening round game by 76 runs and will be next facing off against India C on September 12 at Anantapur.