Rishabh Pant tells Harsha Bhogle his ODI figures are not bad, gets criticised by netizens for being arrogant

The left-handed batter was once again preferred over in-form Sanju Samson in the playing eleven but failed to make an impression in the game. He walked into the middle at 55 for 2 in 13 overs and had a lot of time to build his innings but the southpaw once again threw his wicket away while trying to hit Daryl Mitchell over deep square leg. Glenn Phillips took the catch and ended Pant's knock prematurely.

The Delhi cricketer - who is the vice-captain of the side on this tour - has failed to make an impression in all the games he's played. He has been facing a lot of criticism for consistently throwing his wicket away in the white-ball format.

However, before the start of the third one-dayer, Pant in an interview with Harsha Bhogle for Prime Video said he wants to open for India in the T20s and bat at number 4-5 in the 50-over format.

"I'd want to open in T20s, No. 4-5 in ODIs and Tests I'm already batting at No. 5," Pant told Harsha Bhogle on Prime Video.

When Bhogle asked indirectly why his Test numbers looked the best when he came across more as a white-ball player. "Record is just a number, my white-ball record is not bad either," Pant claimed.

When Bhogle further stated that he was comparing the wicketkeeper-batter's Test and white-ball records, Pant said, "Comparison is not a part of my life, I'm just 24-25 so you can compare once I'm 30-32. There's no logic in comparing before that."

Pant has amassed 336 runs, including an unbeaten century and two half-centuries, at an average of 37.33 and strike rate of 96.55 in 10 innings. Pant - who made his ODI debut in October 2017 - has played 30 ODIs and scored 865 runs at an average of 34.60.

He had earlier said that he doesn't premeditate much in ODIs, because it's not required.

"It's mostly in T20s, not in white-ball cricket [that one has to premeditate]," he said. "There's no real need to premeditate in one-day cricket but you have to in T20s."

Listening to his interview with Bhogle, several cricket fans were not amused with Pant's responses and they even labelled him 'arrogant'.

Here's what netizens said:

"Pant has done well at No. 4, so it is important to back him," says @VVSLaxman281. He's a good player out of form who's failed in ten of his last 11 innings; Samson averages 66 in ODIs, has made runs in all his last five matches & is on the bench. Go figure. @IamSanjuSamson

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 30, 2022

Just saw the Harsha Bhogle bit with Rishabh Pant. Wow, Pant seem to have lost his cool when Harsha Bhogle just said that his Test record is the best as compared to other formats. #INDvNZ #RishabhPant

— Vishesh Roy (@vroy38) November 30, 2022

“Mera white ball record kharab nahi hai”, and Rishabh Pant gets out for 10. Actions speak louder than words. He #justiceforsanjusamson #INDvNZ #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/fyPKnC7NfA

— j̶a̶i̶s̶h̶ ( जैश) (@Jaishthebest) November 30, 2022

In gully cricket, the guy who brings the bat will always find a place in the team, even if better players have to be dropped.

I think #RishabhPant brings the bat for the Indian team.

— Sreejith Panickar (@PanickarS) November 30, 2022

“Mera white ball record kharab nahi hai”, and Rishabh Pant gets out for 10. Actions speak louder than words #INDvNZ #RishabhPant

— Vishesh Roy (@vroy38) November 30, 2022

Arrogance op !! #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/9KTfranGdC

— Sourabh Pareek (@CricSourabh7) November 30, 2022

Is age the only criteria to judge a players performance? Sir apki no. Of innings bhi dekhlo, ICT me competition bhi dekhlo. What do you guys think of this attitude? #rishabhpant #SanjuSamson#NZvINDonPrime #NZvsIND#crickettwitter #topedgecricketpic.twitter.com/Kiwyo4aQUg

— Top Edge Cricket (@topedge_cricket) November 30, 2022