Leeds, England – Indian vice-captain and dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has delivered a truly historic performance at Headingley, smashing centuries in both innings of the first Test against England. His flamboyant yet composed knocks have not only put India in a commanding position but have also seen him shatter a plethora of long-standing records.
A Rare Feat: Twin Centuries in a Test
Pant’s monumental achievement of scoring centuries in both innings (134 in the first and 118 in the second) places him in an exclusive club of cricketers. He is now only the second designated wicketkeeper-batter in Test history to achieve this incredible feat, joining Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, who scored 142 and 199* against South Africa in Harare in 2001.
First Indian to Score Twin Tons in England
Adding another feather to his cap, Pant has become the first Indian batter to smash a century in each innings of a Test match in England. This highlights his exceptional adaptability and prowess in challenging English conditions.
Joining India’s Elite Twin Century Club
Pant’s double hundred-bagging performance sees him enter India’s special club of batters with twin centuries in a Test. This illustrious list includes legends like Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar (3 times), Rahul Dravid (2 times), Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma.
With a match aggregate of 252 runs (134 and 118), Pant has set a new record for the highest match aggregate by a designated wicketkeeper in a Test in England. He surpassed Alec Stewart’s 204 (40 & 164) against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1998.
Five Consecutive 50-Plus Scores in England
Demonstrating his consistent form, Pant has now registered five consecutive 50-plus scores in Tests in England. This puts him in the esteemed company of visiting batters like Don Bradman, Hansie Cronje, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara, and Daryl Mitchell. Only Steven Smith, with seven such scores, is ahead of him on this particular list.
Most Sixes by a Batter in a Test in England
Pant’s attacking approach was on full display as he hammered a total of nine sixes across both innings. This equals the record for the most sixes by a batter in a Test in England, a record previously held by Andrew Flintoff (vs Australia, Edgbaston, 2005) and Ben Stokes (vs Australia, Lord’s, 2023).
Pant’s exceptional record in England now includes four Test centuries, making him the only visiting wicketkeeper-batter to score multiple centuries in the country. He has also accumulated over 800 runs in Tests in England at an impressive average of 42.52, surpassing MS Dhoni as the highest run-scorer among visiting wicketkeeper-batters in England.
Rishabh Pant’s historic outing at Headingley serves as a testament to his unique talent and ability to dominate proceedings with both flair and control, solidifying his status as one of the most exciting and impactful cricketers in the world.
