Pant emphasises on shared responsibility as new era beckons

It was no surprise that Rishabh Pant was among the noisiest in India's first practice session at Headingley on Wednesday (June 18): laughing, teasing, remonstrating when points went against his team in an intra-squad fielding drill. To those who have heard him, over the stump mic or otherwise, it's expected. The childlike simplicity to his game and manner fits right in in what is a largely young team. But now Pant's also a senior in the team.

In his pre-series press conference as the new vice-captain at Headingley, the 27-year-old faced this curious dichotomy. He was addressed as a youngster part of the young team and then called a senior member.

"It feels good, boss. Finally!" he exclaimed, when asked about what it feels like to be looked at as a senior player.

Would it change the instinctive nature of his game that's already put him in the league of the game's great keeper-bats 43 Tests into his career?

"See, it's an extra added responsibility. But at the same time, when you're in the middle of the ground, you're not thinking, I'm the vice-captain, I'm the senior player. You're just a batsman in between," Pant said.

The vice-captaincy also means a more active role in shaping this new era alongside Shubman Gill, India's new Test captain. The