As India continued to pile on runs in their second innings at the Edgbaston Test on Saturday, England's batter Harry Brook attempted to disrupt wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant's rhythm with some cheeky mind games. But, Pant met the provocation with a remarkably level-headed response, refusing to be drawn into an aggressive trap.
During Pant's enthralling boundary-fest, Brook approached the Indian wicket-keeper between deliveries, quizzing him about his fastest Test hundred. "In Test cricket, maybe 80-90 minutes," Pant calmly replied, referencing his quick-fire centuries.
Intriguingly, Brook then tried to egg Pant on, reminding him of his fastest hundred, a blistering 55-ball knock from the IPL 2023 season with SunRisers Hyderabad. "The fastest hundred I have ever done in 55 balls; you can do that today," Brook suggested, seemingly attempting to push Pant into ultra-aggression and potentially force a mistake.
Pant's composure, however, remained unshaken. "It’s okay. Not very greedy for records. If it happens, it happens," he responded.
True to his form, Pant proceeded to smash a quick-fire half-century, scoring 65 runs off just 58 balls, including eight fours and three sixes. Led by captain Shubman Gill's blazing second century of the match (161 off 162 deliveries), India set a colossal target of 608 runs for England. Pant, who has now registered six fifty-plus scores in his last seven innings in England, continued to break numerous big-hitting records, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable force in Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant breaks world record of smashing most sixes in away country
Pant walked in at No. 5 for India during their second innings on Day 4 of the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 5. He made an immediate impact, scoring a quickfire 65 off just 58 deliveries. His entertaining knock included eight boundaries and 3 sixes, providing a solid boost to India’s lead under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
Pant became the first Asian wicket-keeper to record 2000 runs in SENA Tests. The left-hander has struck 23 sixes in Tests in England, the most by any batter in an away country. Pant shored up his career Test sixes to 86. Only Virender Sehwag (90) and Rohit Sharma (88) have recorded more sixes in the format for India.
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