
India's young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant said that he is "feeling very happy" after getting the opportunity to play for India in the Cricket World Cup 2019, which is underway in England and Wales.
The 21-year-old was initially snubbedwhen India's 15-member squad was unveiled but when opener Shikhar Dhawan suffered injury, Pant was brought in as a cover.
He eventually got his big break when Dhawan'sthumb injury turned out to be a fracture, ruling him out of the tournament.
Pantadded that when he was ignored earlier, he remained positive and became more focussed.
"When I didn't get selected, I thought maybe I didn't do something right, so I became more positive and focussed on how to improve myself," Pant told India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in a video posted by BCCI.
"Then I did well in IPL. Then I kept practising," he added.
"It is one dream for all to make India win. When I came to know that I have been called to England as a back-up, my mother was with me. So I told her, she went to temple and paid her offerings.
"As a cricketer, I always wanted to play a World Cup and perform there and now that I have got this opportunity, I am feeling very happy."
India are at fourth position in the 10-team points table and preparing to face Afghanistan on Saturday.