Rishabh Pant on Bumrah vs Konstas clash: He wanted to waste some time so we don’t bowl one more over

Rishabh Pant on Bumrah vs Konstas clash: He wanted to waste some time so we don’t bowl one more over

Having dealt with a gruesome car accident, a red cherry hurtling into his body is perhaps the least of Rishabh Pant’s worries. He battled hard against the Australian attack and was India’s top-scorer with a 40 in the fifth Test that began at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Struck eight times on his torso, Pant competed hard and was one of the bright spots in a dreary Indian first innings. Reacting to the tough outing, he said: “Definitely it’s painful but sometimes you have to do the hard work for the team and that’s okay. I was not thinking about where I got hit but just played the ball to the best of my abilities.” Later he added: “I think this is the first time I have been hit so much.”

Being in proximity when Jasprit Bumrah and Sam Konstas exchanged words, Pant explained: “They wanted to waste some time. I feel that’s the reason. He had a conversation with Jassi (Bumrah). He said something. I didn’t hear. He wanted to waste some time so we don’t bowl one more over.”

Queried about his pitch-impressions, Pant replied: “It was a little bit tough pitch. The ball was doing off the wicket quite a bit. I wouldn’t say 185 is a par-score. But I think anything over 220-250 would be a par-score, but still a very competitive score because the way the ball is moving, there is a lot of help for the bowlers.”

And on the Washington Sundar dismissal, Pant said: “I feel whatever decision we make on the field, it has to stay with the on-field umpire. Until and unless it’s (evidence) so conclusive to change the decision, I think we should stay with the on-field umpire. Technology can be a little better I guess.”