Rishabh Pant Shines in Headingley Test, Setting New Records

Rishabh Pant's Stellar Performance

During Day 2 of the ongoing Test match at Headingley, Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant showcased his exceptional talent against the English bowlers. Partnering with captain Shubman Gill, who scored 147, Pant took charge with his aggressive style of play. His impressive 134 runs in the first innings marked his seventh century in Test cricket, making him the highest-scoring wicket-keeper for India, surpassing the legendary MS Dhoni's record of six centuries.

Praise from Former Cricketers

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, expressed his admiration for Pant's remarkable innings in Leeds, where he struck 12 fours and six sixes, helping India amass a formidable total of 471 runs in their first innings. Manjrekar declared Pant as the greatest wicket-keeper batsman in India's red-ball cricket history, a title he has earned in less than seven years of his career.

Manjrekar's Insights

Manjrekar's Thoughts on Pant's Achievement

"By far, India’s greatest ever Test batter-keeper. I was worried when he was in the 90s that he might end up getting his 8th 90 of his career. It is just unbelievable that he has so many 90s! But he’s a breath of fresh air. When he got out and raised his bat, there were a lot of English supporters who stood up and applauded that innings. That’s what we love about England — these guys come to watch good cricket. They obviously want their team to win, but when they see excellence from the opposition, you can see true appreciation for it,"

Broad's Acknowledgment

Stuart Broad, an experienced bowler from England, echoed Manjrekar's sentiments, noting that Pant's unconventional shots not only excite him but also the audience. He remarked that the reception Pant received from the English crowd at Headingley was among the most enthusiastic he has seen for a visiting player.

“England crowds are always amazing at respecting and appreciating fantastic innings, but that reception which Pant got was one of the loudest I’ve heard for an opposition player scoring a hundred in England. It was really well appreciated, because it was so entertaining. We didn’t know what was coming! There were those falling scoops, full-blooded shots, run-out chances… everything was going on. Everything you want as a Test match fan — patience, leaving, then, a flair shot, putting the bowlers under pressure. The crowd really appreciated everything Rishabh Pant did. Box office — truly a box office innings,” the legendary pacer said.

England's Response

India's first innings concluded at 471 runs, and England had the opportunity to bat for nearly two sessions on the second day. The English batsmen started strong, with Ben Duckett scoring 62 runs off 94 balls and Ollie Pope remaining unbeaten at 100, forming a solid partnership for the second wicket after Zak Crawley's early dismissal for just 4 runs.

After Duckett was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah, Joe Root stepped in to stabilize the innings. However, Bumrah's exceptional bowling once again proved crucial as the day ended with England at 209 for 3.