It feels odd to step out onto the field wearing the Indian jersey: Pant Rishabh

Before the T20 World Cup in 2024, India's wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is looking forward to making a return to his country. Notably, Pant didn't wear the national shirt until December 2022, when they played Bangladesh in the second Test. The cricket player was returning to his hometown to celebrate the New Year on December 30 when he miraculously survived a horrifying vehicle incident.

The batsman from Haridwar, who was born in Bengaluru, followed a demanding rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru after the accident, which enabled him to return to action in the recently finished Indian Premier League 2024 after a 15-month absence. Pant, though, claimed that donning the Indian jersey makes him feel completely different because he loves his team and being with his teammates.

“Getting back on the field with the Indian jersey on, it’s a different feeling altogether and this is something I missed a lot. I think seeing the teammates and meeting them again and spending time, having fun with them, enjoying having conversations with them enjoying,” said Pant in a video shared by BCCI.

Speaking ahead, Pant also discussed the significance of the World Cup for the United States and disclosed his strategy for adjusting to the local climate.

“We’re used to playing in different countries but this is a different prospect. It has opened up a different channel for sport because I feel cricket is growing around the world and getting in a country like the US and getting the exposure here would be nice for cricket as well as USA cricket, I guess. New pitches are there everything is getting set up, just getting used to the conditions I think the sun is a little bit brighter over here so just getting used to it. Hopefully, I make it count and make it better from here,” he added.