Chennai: "Coming back to Test cricket, where I belong most, is great", India's wicketkeeper batsman Rishab Pant, who returned to the Test side after a car crash that kept him out of action for 20 months, said here on Sunday.
Speaking the post match presentation ceremony after India thumped Bangladesh by 280 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the two test series, Pant celebrated his comeback test, by scoring his sixth hundred and equalled iconic M S Dhoni for scoring most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper.
"Getting 100 was special because I love playing in Chennai", Pant said.
"After injury I wanted to play all three formats and this was my first Test match after coming back. Loving it every day. It was emotional, I wanted to score each and every match which didn't I couldn't do, but coming back to Test cricket, which is where I belong the most. is good", he said.
The dashing left hander said he enjoyed batting and got a little bit emotional. "But at the end of the day, being in the field gives me more pleasure than anything else", he said.
About his century along with Shubman Gill, Pant said "I try to read the situation in my own way. When you are 30-3, you need to stitch a partnership. That's what Gill and I did. I feel, when you're batting with someone you have a great relationship outside the field, it really helps."
Skipper Rohit Sharma too praised Pant for scoring a hundred in his comeback Test.
"He (Pant) has been through some tough times, the way he has managed himself through those tough times has been superb to watch.", Rohit said.
"He's done well in the IPL, the World Cup, and this is the format he loves the most. We always knew what he can do with the bat, our focus was to give him game time. He did that in the Duleep trophy and now here", the skipper said.
On India's win, Rohit said It was a great result looking what lies ahead.
"Playing after a while...but you are in touch with the game. Need to be working as a group, had a good lead-up and got the win", he said.
About bowling, he said "We want to build our team around strong bowling options, we have to be ready to face whatever the conditions offer. Gotta give credit to the bowlers who want to take responsibility."
On the wicket, which assisted the pacers on the first two days that saw 23 wickets fell, including 17 on the second day, Rohit said it was a beautiful pitch and the red soil offrs a lot.
"Beautiful pitch, red soil always offers a lot. You have to be patient. You've got used to things happening every ball in India, but it wasn't the case here. We were patient to get the big runs and take wickets", he said.
Rohit also effusively praised off spinner R.Ashwin, whose century along with an equally impressive half century by Ravindra Jadeja and their big stand helped India recover from 144 for six in the first innings and post a big total, and also his six wicket haul in the second innings that fetched him the player of the Match award.
"He's (Ashwin) always there for us over the years. I don't know if I speak here it'll be enough to cover what he does for the team. He looks like he's never out of the game. He played IPL, had some fun in the TNPL. He batted up the order and that helped.", Rohit said.