India’s stand-in captain, Rishabh Pant thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for giving him the opportunity to lead India as he vowed to give his 100% as a captain and as a player in the five-match T20I series against South Africa. Pant has been named India captain for the upcoming T20I series against the Proteas but the Delhi star acknowledged that it didn’t arrive under very good circumstances.

Rishabh Pant was training alongside the Indian team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday evening when he came to know that he will be leading the Indian team for the first time and that too on his home ground.

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During the pre-match press conference, Rishabh Pant said, “I haven’t been able to digest it yet. I got to know just an hour ago. It is a very good feeling; it did not come under very good circumstances, but at the same time I am feeling happy. I would like to thank the BCCI for giving me this opportunity to lead the Indian side.”

He further added, “I will try to make the most out of it. Thank you to all my well-wishers for supporting me in my journey through the thick and thin of my cricketing career. I will look to make it a base and keep improving and keep making my life better and better each and every day.”

Rishabh Pant has been leading the Delhi Capitals for the last couple of Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons and before that, he had led Delhi in Ranji Trophy. The attacking left-hander said the experience of captaining an IPL side will help him a lot.

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Elaborating the same, Rishabh Pant said, “I think as a captain, it will help me a lot (leading in the IPL) because when you are doing the same thing again and again, you improve. I am someone who keeps learning from his mistakes and I think it will help me in the coming days.”