With batters again crippling in the face of Australia's severe bowling attack, India were bowled out for 185 in their first innings of the ongoing fifth and final Test against Australia on day one in Sydney. Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc frustrated Indian batters a lot by claiming four and three wickets respectively. Rishabh Pant was the highest run-getter for India, mustering 40 off 98 in his lengthy stay. 

Pant, who has already been under severe criticism for his reckless dismissal on the final day of the Melbourne Test, which in some ways cost India the match as well, felt that the conditions at SCG didn't allow him to play his traditional game. 

"I think in this innings I was not in a frame of mind where I wanted to take charge of the game because the wicket was doing too much. And the kind of situation we were in and while playing inside I felt like I could do like play a little bit of defensive cricket yes there is a time to attack but when you have to feel that from inside," Pant said during the post-match press conference.

"I can't just pre-meditate that I'm going to play this way whatever the game asked me to do on that given day that's what I try to do and that was the mindset." 

"I would say, like there might be 50-50 chance which I could have taken early on in this innings but sometimes you have to play more secure cricket," Pant added.

Speaking on the approach, Pant said he's trying to evolve and finding that balance. 

"I think mostly you want to back whatever the way you have played game but eventually you gotta keep on evolving. There is, I feel, there is not one way to play cricket but whatever comes more naturally is always better but you gotta find that balance between playing aggressive cricket and having that balance when you play all those shots and that's what I'm trying to do."