Stuart Broad Praises Rishabh Pant's Spectacular Century in Leeds Test
Broad's Admiration for Pant's Performance
In a recent match in Leeds, former England cricketer Stuart Broad expressed his admiration for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who scored a remarkable century against England. Broad noted that Pant's innings was filled with excitement, featuring everything from unexpected scoops to near run-outs.
Pant achieved his seventh Test century, showcasing his signature boldness, including moments where he fell after a shot or lost his bat. Broad, speaking on the 'Match Centre Live' segment, highlighted the enthusiastic response from the England crowd, stating that the cheers for Pant were among the loudest he had ever heard for an opposing player reaching a hundred in England.
He remarked, "The crowd truly appreciated the entertainment he provided. It was unpredictable, with falling scoops, powerful shots, and run-out opportunities. It had everything a Test match fan desires—patience, strategic leaving, and flair shots that put bowlers under pressure. Pant's performance was undeniably box office material," he added.
Broad also commented on England's captain Ben Stokes, who took four wickets to limit India to 471 runs when a score over 500 seemed likely. He praised Stokes as a resilient character who remains positive and proactive on the field.
"He always says, 'Give me the ball; I will show you how to do it.' Despite not playing much cricket this year, he returned to form quickly and has been England's standout bowler," Broad noted.
He further pointed out that while Stokes is their most seasoned bowler, his current form raises concerns for England, especially since if he can swing and seam the ball, so can Indian bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. Thus, he believes England's batting won't be as straightforward as it was for the Indian batsmen.
In the match, England chose to bowl first. India posted a total of 471 all out, thanks to centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 runs off 159 balls), Shubman Gill (147 runs off 227 balls), and Pant (134 runs off 178 balls). Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86) were the leading bowlers for England.