Rishabh Pant Creates History With 7th Test Century, Brings Out Somersault Celebration

Leeds (England) June 21: India vice-captain Rishabh Pant began the five-match series against England with a bang as he completed his seventh ton in the longest format on Day 2 of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. The left-handed batter mixed caution with aggression as he kept the England attack of Ben Stokes, Brydon Carsen, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir at bay.

With this century, Rishabh Pant now has the most number of hundreds as an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, going past MS Dhoni. The latter had six Test tons to his name while Pant now has seven.

Pant is now on level terms with England’s Matt Prior, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa’s AB de Villiers and New Zealand’s BJ Watling in the number of centuries scored as a Test wicketkeeper-batter.

Rishabh Pant also has the most number of hundreds by a visiting wicketkeeper-batter in England. He has three Test tons in the UK while no other visiting wicketkeeper has more than 1 century to their name.

The 27-year-old brought up his century off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir. He brought up the three-figure mark in 146 balls. Pant brought up the century with a one-handed six off the bowling of Bashir.

Upon achieving the milestone, Pant soaked in the applause of the Headingley crowd. Moments later, he brought out the somersault celebration and the entire Leeds crowd erupted in applause and cheers. “One of the best hundred celebrations I have seen in my entire life,” said Ian Ward on air.

Coming into bat in the third and final session on Day 1, Rishabh Pant made his intentions clear as he danced down the track off the bowling of Ben Stokes to smash him down the ground for a four.

India are completely bossing the first Test against England after being asked to bat. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone through a 91-run opening stand. Jaiswal and Gill then took the momentum ahead with their smashing hundreds.