When Rishabh Pant bats, it appears like he’s capturing the fun of life. He is endlessly fascinating, principally exhilarating, often staid and by no means boring.
Yet, for all of the razzmatazz he brings, his presence within the center is uniquely comforting. No Indian batter in current occasions has performed as many match-turning knocks as Pant in Test whites.
Day 4 of the opening Test in opposition to England at Headingley offered one other alternative for the dashing batter to showcase his price.
The southpaw didn’t disappoint, scoring his second ton of the match (118, 140b, 15×4, 3×6) to affix a choose band of six different Indians to have achieved the feat (Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma).
With Rahul (137, 247b, 18×4) — whose type and strategies are in direct aesthetic confrontation to Pant’s however no much less efficient — he mixed for 195 first-rate, fourth-wicket runs (in 280 balls).
The partnership helped India go away England with a 371-run goal to chase. The hosts reached 21 for no loss at stumps, setting up a mouth-watering final day whilst the specter of rain looms giant. Curiously, Leeds is the one floor on the planet the place targets of 350 or extra have been chased efficiently twice.
Earlier on Monday (June 23, 2025), Shubman Gill had fallen off the seventh ball of the morning, and below typical English bowling situations, Pant, alongside in a single day batter Rahul, had to make sure that India didn’t crumble within the second essay and permit England a strong maintain. The duo managed that beautifully.
Pant began in acquainted trend. He tried to hoick Chris Woakes the second ball he confronted, however the cherry flew over the slip cordon. His subsequent two boundaries had been additionally streaky, an imbalanced slap down the bottom and a top-edge.
An tried falling ramp shot over short-fine practically value him, however the ball hit the bat earlier than thudding on to his pads. But he quickly buckled down, maybe influenced by Rahul’s stoic, however towering, manner.
As Brydon Carse bowled a menacing line, Rahul carried out a batting clinic. He left the ball exterior off supremely nicely and performed these coming in with the softest of arms. The drop by Harry Brook at gully on 58 off Josh Tongue was the one jarring be aware, however Rahul was unaffected. In the primary two hours, he added 25 runs however by consuming 82 balls, he had thwarted England’s advance.
After the break, as Pant gave himself the license to interrupt free, Rahul performed the best foil. While Pant reduce Tongue for 4, caned offie Shoaib Bashir for 2 sixes in an over and pulled Carse in entrance of sq., Rahul was unflappable, attacking solely the dangerous balls, just like the quick one he pulled off Bashir for a boundary to maneuver into the 90s.
A steer to the third-man fence took Rahul to 97 and quickly he accomplished his ninth century – seventh exterior the subcontinent — with a hard-run double. Nearly seven overs handed with Pant within the 90s — an inordinately very long time by his requirements — however he too quickly tasted ecstasy with a fast single to level.
Rishabh Pant walks off after being caught by England’s Zak Crawley off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir.
| Photo Credit:
Action Images through Reuters
Before Pant was caught out at long-on off Bashir, he smashed Joe Root for 2 fours and a six. A symbolic knock-out punch? Time will inform.
