Rishabh Pant Shines with Century as India Dominates England in Test Match

Rishabh Pant's Stellar Performance

Vice-captain of Team India, Rishabh Pant, garnered accolades from former cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar following his remarkable century on Day 2 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 21.

Resuming his innings at 65 not out from 102 deliveries, Pant had already formed a significant 138-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Indian captain Shubman Gill, who scored 147 off 227 balls on the first day. On Day 2, Pant maintained his composed and aggressive batting style, transforming his overnight score into a splendid century, earning applause from the crowd and his teammates, as well as from Gavaskar in the commentary box.

Pant reached his century by hitting a six off spinner Shoaib Bashir while on 99, marking his seventh Test century, which is the highest for an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, surpassing MS Dhoni's record of six.

Gavaskar's Shift in Praise

Earlier in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gavaskar criticized Pant for a reckless shot that led to his dismissal during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, labeling it 'Stupid, Stupid, Stupid' on air.

However, after Pant's impressive century in the England Test series, Gavaskar's tone shifted dramatically, praising him with 'Superb, Superb, and Superb.' This moment was captured in a video shared by a sports network, which quickly gained traction on social media.

Pant Reflects on His Journey

Before Day 3 of the Headingley Test, Cheteshwar Pujara inquired about Pant's feelings regarding the commendation from the legendary cricketer. Pant expressed his satisfaction in overcoming challenges and using setbacks as motivation for improvement.

He stated, 'It feels great when you work on your flaws and turn a setback into a comeback. I was fortunate to change my approach through hard work, focus, and discipline, making this a thrilling moment for me.'

India's Strong Position

Pant's innings of 134 runs off 178 balls was pivotal, as he and Gill formed a crucial 209-run partnership for the fourth wicket, putting India in a strong position at 430/4. However, a sudden collapse saw India lose their last six wickets for just 41 runs, ending their innings at 471.

Meanwhile, England resumed their first innings at 209/3, with Ollie Pope and Harry Brook at the crease. The hosts lost three wickets on Day 2, all dismissed by India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

Pope and Brook aimed to build a solid partnership until Pope was dismissed for 106 runs, followed by England captain Ben Stokes, who scored 20 runs. By the end of the morning session, England had reached 327/5 after 77 overs, trailing by 144 runs.