Rishabh Pant Shines in Headingley Test Despite India's Loss

Rishabh Pant's Stellar Performance
In the first Test of the five-match series against England at Headingley, Team India's vice-captain, Rishabh Pant, delivered an outstanding performance. He scored centuries in both innings, making 134 runs off 178 balls in the first and 118 runs off 140 balls in the second. This remarkable achievement made him the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter and only the second player after former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower to score a century in each innings of a Test match.
Team India's Narrow Defeat
Despite Pant's exceptional contributions and additional centuries from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul, India fell short, losing the opening match by five wickets to England on the final day.
Celebration Highlights
Rishabh Pant's unique somersault celebration has become a highlight of the match. This celebration first gained attention during his century for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. Upon reaching his century in the Headingley Test, Pant celebrated with a somersault, which delighted fans and teammates alike.
WHAT A KNOCK, WHAT A CELEBRATION! πͺπ―2018, 2021 & now 2025 - πππππΌπ½π-ππΌπππ continues on the English soil! πͺπ 7th Test centuryπ 4th vs ENG in Testsπ 3rd in ENG in Tests#ENGvIND 1st Test, Day 2 | Streaming LIVE NOW on JioHotstar π https://t.co/PLSZ49Mrj4β¦
A Change in Celebration
After scoring his second century in the Headingley Test, Pant surprised everyone by opting for Dele Alli's iconic 'eye gesture' celebration instead of his usual somersault. Sunil Gavaskar, watching from the media box, encouraged him to perform his signature move, but Pant decided to save it for later.
Fitness and Flexibility
Pant's somersault has become a fan favorite, showcasing his fitness after recovering from a serious injury. Former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin advised him to refrain from such celebrations, emphasizing the physical toll of Test cricket compared to the IPL.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin remarked, "Please donβt go for that front flip. In Test cricket, your body gets tired, unlike the IPL, where you face fewer balls. He is a top batter and has nothing to prove."
Pant's Gymnastic Background
Rishabh Pant explained that his ability to perform a somersault stems from his school days when he participated in gymnastics. He mentioned, "I have been doing it for a long time. I took part in gymnastics during school. If I get up in the middle of the night, I can do a somersault. After my car accident, I had to work harder to perform it again. However, it is easy for me again."