Rishabh Pant takes over captaincy for India in 2nd Test vs South Africa in Guwahati, aiming to bounce back after thrilling Eden Gardens defeat.

Guwahati:  The fiery Rishabh Pant acknowledged on Friday that winning a single Test match is not the “best scenario,” but he is not dwelling too much on the fact that India will face a close-knit South Africa in the second Test here.

Following the release of injured regular captain Shubman Gill from the squad prior to the match beginning here on Saturday, Pant was given the captaincy.

At the pre-match news conference, Pant stated, “I am grateful to the BCCI for this honor, but a one-off match is not the best scenario for a captain. Sometimes, if you think too much about a big occasion, it doesn’t help.”

“(I) don’t want to over-think. We had a tough first Test and we need to do whatever is required to win the Test,” he stated.

After their thrilling victory at Eden Gardens, where Gill was hospitalized after suffering a neck spasm while batting in the first innings, South Africa now leads the two-match series 1-0.

Pant stated that Gill’s replacement for the game has already been decided by the team management, but he did not reveal the identity.

Also read : Shubman Gill Travels to Guwahati Ahead of 2nd Test vs South Africa, Fitness in Doubt

Pant praised Gill for making every effort to be available for the pivotal match. “We have decided on who will play in place of Shubman. The person who will play knows he is playing.” He continued, “I want to be conventional and also blend with out-of-box thinking. Want to have nice balance…..We have to keep things simple and the team that plays better cricket will win it.”

“Shubman was eager to play the game and demonstrated perseverance even when his body did not allow it, which is the kind of mentality you want to see.

“Every day, Gill and I talk. “Yesterday evening, I learned about captaincy,” he remarked.