Former Indian middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from all forms of the game, has strolled down memory lane to recall the Indian keeper-batter’s entertainment behind the stumps.
While speaking to Sony Sports Network, Ajinkya Rahane, who has played with Pant for a long time, asserted that Pant’s chatter behind the stumps is entertaining and can be distracting at times too.
“He is always like this. He is very entertaining. The Sri Lankan players don’t understand Hindi, but if you keep talking like this, the batter’s focus wavers. You have to focus in the slips and at short leg, and the bowlers start getting angry. If there is an edge and the ball goes by your side, and you are not able to put in your best effort, the bowlers get angry. Ashwin and Jadeja were there (when Rahane was part of the Indian team). You had to tell him to disturb the batter and not our own players,” Rahane said on Sony Sports.
On Day 3 of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka, Pant and substitute fielder Sarfaraz Khan were involved in a funny conversation, which was caught on the stump mic. Indian veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was yet to join the attack. Sarfaraz was heard on the stump mic telling the all-rounder to wait patiently as all the bowlers will share wickets among them.
“Lamba game hai Jaddu bhai. Mil baat ke khaayenge (It is a long game, we will share the spoils),” Sarfaraz said.
“Aur sab talvaar chalayenge” Pant responded.
