Rishabh Pant’s Dazzling Century Highlights Day 2 at Headingley, India Cross 450 Before England Fight Back

Rishabh Pant’s Dazzling Century Highlights Day 2 at Headingley, India Cross 450 Before England Fight Back
 By Prem Kumar Sat, 21 Jun 2025
Rishabh Pant’s Dazzling Century Highlights Day 2 at Headingley, India Cross 450 Before England Fight Back
Headingley, Leeds – Rishabh Pant lit up the second day of the first Test between India and England with a sensational century, marking his seventh Test hundred—the most by an Indian wicketkeeper, surpassing the legendary MS Dhoni. His fireworks, combined with solid contributions from Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, powered India to a commanding position before England clawed back late in the session.

Pant Shines as India Cross 400

Coming in on a strong platform laid on Day 1, Pant wasted no time in unleashing his attacking instincts. He began the morning watchfully before launching into the English bowlers. Brydon Carse bore the initial brunt, with Pant’s first three boundaries of the day coming off his bowling.

Once off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was introduced, Pant stepped on the accelerator. He welcomed Bashir with a cheeky paddle for four, followed by a powerful six over midwicket. The fireworks continued as Pant reached his hundred in flamboyant style — with a six over square leg — and celebrated with a trademark somersault. He added another maximum in the same over, which just evaded the long-off fielder’s grasp.

Pant’s innings was not just about personal milestones—it helped India surge past the 400-run mark, a dominant first-innings statement.

 England Hit Back Late in the Session

However, the day wasn’t entirely India’s. The second half of the session witnessed a mini-collapse. After scoring 53 runs without loss in the first hour, India lost four wickets for just 42 runs, allowing England a way back.

Shubman Gill, who was nearing a memorable 150, fell on 147, miscuing a slog-sweep off Bashir and ending a mammoth 209-run fourth-wicket stand with Pant. Soon after, Karun Nair’s comeback ended in disappointment, caught brilliantly by Ollie Pope off Ben Stokes for a duck.

Pant continued to take on the bowlers, smashing Bashir for another six and narrowly avoiding a stumping chance, saved only by a fumble from Jamie Smith. But his luck soon ran out as cloud cover brought movement for England’s bowlers. Pant was eventually dismissed LBW while shouldering arms, and the review didn’t overturn the decision.

Stokes, leading the fightback, struck again on the stroke of lunch by removing Shardul Thakur, finishing the session with figures of 4/66 and reviving England’s hopes.

 Brief Scores (Day 2, Lunch):

India – 454/7

  • Shubman Gill: 147

  • Rishabh Pant: 134

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal: 101

  • Ben Stokes: 4/66

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