Rishabh Pant has resumed his Test career on a high note with a scintillating century in the ongoing Edgbaston Test versus England, and his partnership with Ravindra Jadeja helped India not only avoid a below-par total but indeed put the team on perhaps a match-winning one.
Rishabh Pant now has two Test tons in England, one each in South Africa and Australia; in comparison, all other Indian wicket-keepers have 3 Test hundreds combined outside Asia!
Rishabh Pant played a stunning knock
Pant and Jadeja joined hands when India were reeling at the score of 98/5 and forged a partnership of 222 runs off 239 deliveries. Pant, though, counter-attacked with a stunning assault on the hosts’ bowlers. He slammed 146 runs off 111 balls, walloping 20 fours and 4 sixes.
Jadeja was subdued in his approach but was equally effective; after finishing Day 1 on 83, the all-rounder notched up his century and finished with 104 off 194 balls, including stroking 13 boundaries, as India, galloped by skipper Jasprit Bumrah’s 13-ball 31* knock, finished with a big total of 416.
Virender Sehwag hails Pant; the youngster replies
Former India swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag was happy with Pant’s dynamic approach and his thunderous innings. He took to Twitter and congratulated Pant in his own style, hailing the left-hander as the “most entertaining cricketer in the world”.
With an emotional picture from a movie, Sehwag tweeted: “Pant is in a league of his own. The most entertaining cricketer in the world, this is a special one.”
Pant is in a league of his own.
The most entertaining cricketer in the world, this is a special one. pic.twitter.com/PgGTjgxUd9— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 1, 2022
In reply, Pant was humble and thanked Sehwag. The 24-year-old also recognised Sehwag as amongst the greatest ever batters.
“@virendersehwag bhaiya .. love this. you are one of the greatest and one of the best,” Pant replied.
@virendersehwag bhaiya .. love this.
you are one of the greatest and one of the best.
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) July 2, 2022
Responding to the Tweet, Virender Sehwag wrote the sweetest message for Pant. He wrote: “So proud of you. Since the first time I saw you, I knew you were going to be a special player , and so glad that the world has seen it now , will see many more….”
So proud of you. Since the first time I saw you, I knew you were going to be a special player , and so glad that the world has seen it now , will see many more….
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 2, 2022
Toward the end of India’s innings, it was Jasprit Bumrah and Stuart Broad who hogged the limelight as they became part of history: Broad bowled the most expensive over in Test cricket, leaking 35 runs (28 off the bat of Bumrah).
