Pant says sorry for debacle, vows India will regroup and refocus

India vice-captain Rishabh Pant apologised for the team’s 0-2 Test series loss to South Africa, saying players will regroup and refocus to come back stronger. The defeat has intensified scrutiny on coach Gautam Gambhir’s strategy of relying on all-rounders

New Delhi: India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant has apologised for the team’s poor performance in the 0-2 series loss to South Africa, asserting that the side will “regroup, refocus and reset” to come back stronger.

India were handed a 0-2 drubbing in the series that ended with the second Test in Guwahati on Tuesday. Pant led the home side in that match as regular skipper Shubman Gill was nursing a neck injury.

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The team lost by a mammoth 408 runs, further denting its aura of invincibility at home and making the path to the World Test Championship final more difficult.

“There is no shying away from the fact that we did not play good enough cricket over the last two weeks. As a team and as individuals, we always want to perform at the highest level and bring smiles to billions of Indians,” Pant, who has drawn flak for his reckless shot selection during the series, said in a post on X.

“Sorry we could not live up to expectations this time, but sport teaches you to learn, adapt and grow — both as a team and as individuals. We know what this team is capable of and we will work hard, regroup, refocus and reset to come back stronger and better,” he added.

Pant insisted that representing India is the greatest honour of the players’ lives.

The defeat at the hands of a well-prepared South Africa came within a year of the embarrassing 0-3 whitewash inflicted by a lesser fancied New Zealand side. Both touring teams capitalised on Indian batters’ lack of application against quality spinners.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has faced maximum scrutiny for the recent failures, with several former players questioning his insistence on filling the side with all-rounders instead of slotting specialists for specific positions.

India is not due to play any more Test cricket until next year.