Srinagar, Sep 30: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and Paras Dogra struck a similar note ahead of the Irani Cup, urging their teams to keep things simple and focus on the game as defending Ranji Trophy champions J&K prepare to face a star-studded Rest of India side.
Pant, who will captain Rest of India in the five-day first-class fixture, while addressing the media on Wednesday said his approach remains straightforward, make the most of every opportunity and continue to improve.
“For me, it’s very simple. Whatever is in front of me, I will give my best. That is how I play. I keep it very simple. Whatever opportunity I get, I try to get better,” Pant said during the pre-match press conference.
The match also marks Pant’s return to red-ball cricket after his recent international commitments, and he said playing more cricket was important for preparation.
“Playing cricket is always good. The more you play, the better you can get for sure. So definitely, it has been a good experience,” he said.
Pant said Rest of India would respect J&K’s recent performances but would remain focused on their own plans.
“The way J&K have played most of the season has been exceptional. They have done really well. But at the same time, we want to focus on ourselves. We will plan out some things with the bowlers and just keep it normal and simple,” he said.
J&K enter the contest as Ranji Trophy champions after a historic campaign, but captain Paras Dogra insisted the team has already moved on from that achievement.
“We won the championship and it was a very good atmosphere. We have forgotten that now. We have taken the good things and made memories, but now we have to think about the future,” Dogra said.
“The next name is Irani. What has happened is in the memories now. I always say, how do I prepare for the future? That is what we are thinking about.”
Dogra said the entire squad was eager to perform on the big stage and that the team had prepared well despite the absence of some key players.
“Everyone is in good shape. Everyone is hungry and everyone wants to do well. There is no doubt about that. There will obviously be a lack, but we have replacements. We want to play good cricket,” he said.
The J&K skipper also played down the pressure of entering the match as Ranji Trophy champions, saying the team would not allow the tag to affect its approach.
“We keep things simple. Our group is like that. We talk a lot and we want to play a good game. We have practised a lot and always want to keep our standards high,” Dogra said.
“We don’t believe in whether we win or don’t win. We can only try to play a good game.”
For Pant, the Irani Cup is another opportunity to compete in the longer format and continue building towards his return to the white-ball setup.
“Every game is an opportunity for me. I want to give my best and I keep it very simple,” Pant said.
He also spoke about the importance of maintaining perspective during a long career, saying ups and downs are inevitable.
“When you have an international career for 15-20 years, you have to go through all these things. It is that kind of mindset. If you can keep it simple, have the right guidance and the right people to guide you, just keep giving your best each and every time you take the field,” he said.
Pant also highlighted the value of interacting with younger players during his return to domestic cricket. He said senior players have a responsibility to share their experience with those coming through the system.
“Whenever you come back and start playing domestic cricket once in a while, it’s always good to share that experience with everyone. A lot of people come and you want to share your experience, what you have gained over the period of time,” he said.
Dogra, meanwhile, said playing alongside and against established international cricketers would provide J&K’s emerging players with an important learning opportunity.
“Everyone will learn from their game, their attitude. There are players who are playing on good platforms and with good players. In this game, you learn as much as you can,” he said.
The Irani Cup will bring together J&K, the reigning Ranji Trophy champions, and a Rest of India side featuring several established and emerging names, with the match providing the hosts an opportunity to test themselves against some of the country’s leading first-class cricketers.
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