Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to achieve a century in both innings of a Test match on Monday, June 23, in Headingley, Leeds. He and Andy Flower are the only wicketkeepers in Test cricket history to have scored twin century.
Pant hit 118 runs off 140 balls on Monday, following his 134 from 178 balls in the first innings. He got lucky early in the second innings when he tried a hoick that sent the ball up in the air, but the Headingley breeze helped it avoid the fielder and float to the fine-leg boundary.
KL Rahul, who formed a critical 195-run partnership with Pant, believes people should become acclimated to the wicketkeeper-batter’s unusual batting style rather than attempting to persuade him to play traditional cricket. Rahul, who also hit a century (137 off 247 balls), believes Pant’s unconventional shots are the result of careful planning. During his knock, the Indian vice-captain was seen hitting himself in the helmet after failing to perform a ramp shot. On the stump mic, he could be heard telling himself to play directly down the ground.
“It’s hard for us to understand his mindset, but you let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant,” Rahul was reported as saying by India Today.
“There’s clearly a method to his wildness, since he averages 45 in Test cricket. There is a lot of thought behind the wild shots he plays. “You just try to calm him down as much as possible between balls,” he explained.
Rahul and Pant’s phenomenal partnership helped India get into a strong position at 287/3. However, the Indian lower middle-order flattered to deceive yet again as the tourists were bowled out for 364. England’s openers safely negotiated six overs before stumps on Day 4. The Three Lions need 350 runs to win on the final day, while India need all 10 wickets.
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