"Stupid, stupid, stupid." Six months ago, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar had slammed Rishabh Pant for his shot selection, giving him the harshest reprimand ever on live broadcast. Pant was caught at third-man attempting to scoop Scott Boland, leading to his dismissal with the Melbourne Test against Australia on the line. Six months later, Pant has redeemed himself, at least in Gavaskar's eyes.
On Day 2 of the Headingley Test, he achieved his seventh Test century, and he did it in spectacular fashion by hitting Shoaib Bashir for a six over wide long-on. Gavaskar was commentating when Pant was staring at his century and as the wicketkeeper batsman reached the milestone, the former India captain said: "Superb, superb, superb. Absolutely terrific batting by the young man."
Another word from Sunny G...!#SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/w1SF4t7KRz— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 21, 2025
This was Pant's seventh Test hundred and it took him past his idol MS Dhoni (6) in the tally of most Test centuries by designated wicket-keepers for India. Pant celebrated his back-to-back Test hundred in England with a somersault – his signature style.
Pant also moved up to the fourth position on the list of international wicket-keepers with most Test hundreds, joining BJ Watling, Matt Prior, AB de Villiers, and Kumar Sangakkara. The feat also saw Pant become the only overseas wicketkeeper batsman to hit three Test hundreds in England.
Meanwhile, this was the third instance when Pant reached a Test century with a six, all of them coming against English spinners - Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir. Only Sachin Tendulkar has done it more frequently for India — six times — while Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from the format, has done it three times as well.
Pant, the Indian vice-captain, also brought up the 200-run stand with captain Shubman Gill for the fourth wicket with a six straight down the ground.
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar also lauded Pant’s astonishing knock. “Rishabh’s celebration is as entertaining as his batting! Well done Rishabh,” Tendulkar posted on X.
Rishabh’s celebration is as entertaining as his batting!Well done Rishabh. pic.twitter.com/8EYCupeXwx
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 21, 2025
Pant was on 124 when Jamie Smith missed out an easy stumping chance off Bashir. The southpaw tried to hit the ball hard as he danced down the track but missed it completely, also losing grip of the bat, a familiar sight with Pant. Smith failed to hold onto the ball, which came at his chest height and the hurry to inflict a stumping didn't allow him to collect it.
Pant finally fell to Josh Tongue trapped plumb in front, who got the ball to curve back in late and quite sharply. Pant offered no shot and was caught on the crease. Aussie umpire Paul Reiffel raised his finger, Pant went for the review and the replays showed the ball was crashing onto the stumps. Pant fell at the stroke of Lunch on Day 2 after scoring 134 – an entertaining knock that was studded with 12 fours and 6 sixes.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
