Pant was responding to a question about that game, against Punjab Kings on Saturday, when he said: “We are proud as a team regardless of how our situation is right now. You know, the kind of team we have, we know we can win this. Regardless of anything we are confident enough as a team and as individuals. It hasn’t gone our way and everyone knows that but that doesn’t take away the fact that we are a f**cking good team”

“Sometimes, you know, it is hard,” Pant said in defence of his team. “On a [flat] wicket like this, there is less margin for the bowlers, you know and just having too many suggestions doesn’t work you know. Sometimes you have to keep a simple plan and keep focusing on that one ball at a time and try to execute that plan.”

Sooryavanshi batting through to the 14th over and scoring his runs at rapid pace prevented Pant from using one of the bowlers he had available – left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed. He only came on for the last over of the game when RR needed two runs to win.

“Definitely, the left-handers. They had been batting for a period of time. And exposing a left-arm spinner, I didn’t want that, because [Digvesh] Rathi (4-0-38-0) was in the side. So why take chance on Shabby when Rathi is there, for sure.”