On Day 2 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made history by scoring his seventh Test century, surpassing the legendary MS Dhoni's record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper. Pant’s milestone came in spectacular fashion, marked by his signature flair and a celebration that lit up the crowd.
Resuming his innings on an overnight score of 65, Pant immediately showed intent by dispatching a boundary down fine leg off Brydon Carse. He continued to assert dominance on the English bowling attack, which included the likes of Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, and Shoaib Bashir. Pant collected two more boundaries against Carse before taking on Bashir, hitting a four and then a towering six to move into the 90s.
The landmark century was reached in 146 deliveries when Pant hammered a one-handed six over the deep mid-wicket boundary off Bashir, a shot that drew loud cheers from the Headingley crowd. Pant celebrated with a somersault, a moment that commentator Ian Ward described as "One of the best hundred celebrations I have seen in my entire life." This celebration highlighted not only his athleticism but also the joy and confidence he carries at the crease.
At 27 years old, Pant has now etched his name alongside some of the finest wicketkeeper-batsmen in international cricket. His seven Test centuries place him ahead of MS Dhoni, who scored six centuries over 90 matches, while Pant achieved this feat in just 44 games. Internationally, Pant joins the elite company of England's Matt Prior, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa's AB de Villiers, and New Zealand's BJ Watling, all of whom have seven Test hundreds as wicketkeepers. Moreover, Pant holds the unique distinction of being the only overseas wicketkeeper to score three Test centuries in England, a testament to his adaptability and skill in foreign conditions.
Pant's innings was a blend of audacity and caution. He walked in during the final session of Day 1 after the dismissal of centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal and wasted no time announcing his presence by dancing down the track to Ben Stokes on just his second ball, lofting the England captain for a boundary. Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, commenting on Sky Sports, remarked on the audacious shot, saying, "Outrageous. There's a difference between sexy and silly. It is going to look sexy when it comes off and silly when it doesn't." Pant’s aggressive start was tempered by a disciplined approach as he played a string of solid defensive strokes, accumulating 16 runs off 44 balls against Shoaib Bashir before launching into more attacking shots.
His fifty came off 91 balls, reached with an unorthodox sweep shot off Chris Woakes that, despite bottom edging, yielded a couple of runs. After Shubman Gill, the Indian captain for this Test, reached his century the previous evening, Pant lifted his game, mixing caution with aggression to build a massive partnership exceeding 200 runs for the fourth wicket. This partnership has been pivotal in putting India in a commanding position in the match.
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar praised Pant's instinctive style on Sony Sports, noting, "It seems like that's how he plays. When he comes in to bat, on the second or third ball, he often uses his feet and hits a boundary. It makes him feel free and then allows him to play the way he wants." Gavaskar further added, "Over here, he's been measured in his approach, giving himself time out in the middle. But once he's in and the bowlers start to tire, that's when he begins to step down the pitch and really attack, hitting big shots, sixes, and boundaries." This balance between aggression and patience has been key to Pant’s success in this innings.
India’s innings overall has been bolstered by strong performances from the top order. The opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal laid a solid foundation with a 91-run partnership, while Jaiswal and Shubman Gill also contributed commanding centuries. Pant’s partnership with Gill continues to flourish, strengthening India’s grip on the match.
The English bowling attack, led by captain Ben Stokes and supported by Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, and newcomer Shoaib Bashir, has been tested thoroughly by this formidable Indian batting lineup. Despite their efforts, Pant’s combination of flair and resilience has kept the scoreboard ticking and morale high for India.
The playing XIs for this historic Test match were as follows: For England, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir. India fielded Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on Pant to see if he can continue this rich vein of form. His record-breaking century at Headingley not only cements his place among India’s cricketing greats but also signals the rise of a player capable of dominating on the world stage. With such a commanding start, India appears firmly in control of the first Test, setting the stage for an exciting contest ahead.
