Rishabh Pant Advocates Elite Player Involvement in Domestic Cricket

Rishabh Pant, India's star wicketkeeper-batter, has expressed his support for the involvement of elite players in domestic cricket as the Duleep Trophy commenced on Thursday. Pant, who is representing India B in the tournament, shared his excitement about returning to red-ball cricket after a two-year hiatus.

"It's an amazing feeling, especially after the accident I had two years ago," Pant said. "I always wondered when I would be able to play for India again. In the past six months, I've played in the IPL and won the World Cup, which was a dream come true. Now, I'm back in red-ball cricket and playing my first Duleep Trophy match in over two years."

Pant emphasized the importance of domestic cricket, particularly the Duleep Trophy. "Match practice is crucial for cricketers," he said. "Youngsters learn a lot from us when they see us playing here, even after playing international cricket. We have a responsibility to share our experiences and knowledge with them."

The 26-year-old believes that the gaps between international teams are narrowing, leading to increased focus on improvement. "Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka perform well in Asian conditions," Pant said. "But as the Indian team, we focus on our own standards and how we can improve. We strive to play with the same intensity and give our best every day."

Pant acknowledged the pressure associated with international cricket but emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. "The pressure will always be there," he said. "But we have to give our hundred percent regardless. That mindset has worked well for me so far."

Pant is hopeful of making a return to the Test side for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh. "The margin between winning and losing is very small nowadays," he said. "But we have to give our hundred percent and focus on our own improvement."

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