Rishabh Pant's Stellar Century Earns Praise from Sunil Gavaskar

Rishabh Pant Shines in Test Match Against England

Rishabh Pant, India's talented wicketkeeper-batter and vice-captain of the Test squad, showcased his skills with a remarkable century during the first Test against England. This impressive performance unfolded on the second day of the match held at Headingley, Leeds. Pant reached his seventh Test century by hitting a six off England's spinner Shoaib Bashir at the start of the 100th over. This marked his fourth century against England, and he celebrated the milestone with a somersault, reminiscent of his celebration after scoring a century for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025.

Sunil Gavaskar's Transformation

Sunil Gavaskar, a legendary figure in Indian cricket, who had previously criticized Pant, expressed his admiration during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. While commentating on the match, he exclaimed 'Superb, Superb, Superb' as he witnessed Pant's exceptional performance. Gavaskar appreciated Pant's ability to balance caution with aggression, particularly in the latter stages of the game when bowlers were fatigued. It's noteworthy that Gavaskar had earlier labeled Pant as 'stupid' during the Australia Test series.

Pant's Balanced Approach

Pant's innings exemplified a perfect mix of caution and aggression. He began aggressively, targeting Ben Stokes on just his second ball. However, he later adopted a more measured approach against Shoaib Bashir, scoring only 16 runs off the next 44 deliveries. This composed style earned him accolades from Gavaskar, who noted Pant's ability to enjoy his innings against tired bowlers. Unfortunately, Pant's innings came to an end when Josh Tongue bowled an inswinger that resulted in an LBW dismissal at 134 runs.