Rishabh Pant made his presence felt right away with a bold and entertaining shot during the first Test between India and England at Leeds. Walking in to bat at number five, Pant stepped out of the crease and smashed Ben Stokes straight back over his head for four early in his innings. It was a fearless way to get off the mark and showed exactly the kind of intent Pant is known for.
Stokes couldn’t help but laugh at the shot, sharing a light moment and a quick chat with Pant as he walked back.
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It was a great example of how Test cricket has evolved—aggressive batting, competitive spirit, and mutual respect all in one frame.
India made a strong start to the first Test against England, reaching 215 for 2 by tea, thanks to a solid opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
Jaiswal brought up his fifth Test hundred in 144 balls, once again enjoying success against England’s bowling. Gill, captaining the Test side for the first time, played with positive intent and reached his eighth Test fifty off just 56 deliveries, showing a sharp contrast in approach compared to his partner.
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What stood out in Jaiswal’s innings was his improved shot selection. Known for his aggressive strokeplay, the left-hander showed maturity and control—especially around the off-stump, where he had previously struggled during India A’s matches against the England Lions. This time, the 23-year-old showed he had learned from those outings, keeping his mistakes in check and building a more composed innings.
However, Stokes produced a stunning delivery to dismiss centurion Jaiswal on Friday. In the 53rd over, Stokes delivered a length ball that angled in around the off-stump. Jaiswal, aiming to drive it straight, was completely beaten as the ball zipped past his outside edge and crashed into the stumps—a fitting end to a fine innings.
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