- Friday, March 14, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
IT was one of the brightest days in the career of India wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant. The 24-year-old left-handed batter belted the same England bowlers who looked ominous a few hours ago the same inaugural day of the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston after reducing India to 98 for 5 after Ben Stokes won the toss and asked Jasprit Bumrah’s team to bat first.
The explosive Pant, who is known for his effective counter-attacking style of batting, added 222 runs for the sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja who is still batting on 83 to take India to a much assured 330 in the first innings. None of the England bowlers looked effective against the partnership and India eventually ended the day at 338 for 7.
ALSO READ: WATCH: How Rahul Dravid reacted to Rishabh Pant century at Edgbaston
The cricketing fraternity was ecstatic with Pant’s exploits and they hailed his knock on social media. It was Pant’s fifth century in Tests, three of which have come against England and two on their soil.
Rishabh Pant’s counter-attacking ton ruins England’s Day 1 party
India’s white-ball opener Shikhar Dhawan called Pant’s knock “Simply Awesome” and “amazing” and he asked him to keep it up.
Simply Awesome! Amazing knock?! Keep it up @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/ivq0oIeIsW
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 2, 2022
Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and current president of the Indian cricket board, praised the knocks played by Pant and Jadeja under pressure. “Can’t get better than this,” he said in a tweet. Pant thanked him for his words.
Special exhibition of test match batting under pressure .@RishabhPant17 @imjadeja ..can't get better then this ..get to 375 tmrw ..
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) July 1, 2022
Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar, one of the best batters the game has produced, tweeted, saying, “Simply awesome @RishabhPant17! Well done.? Crucial innings by @imjadeja. Rotated the strike well and played some amazing shots.”
Simply awesome @RishabhPant17!
Well done.?Crucial innings by @imjadeja. Rotated the strike well and played some amazing shots.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/9ACuhVlGTT
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 1, 2022
Pant thanked Tendulkar as well and called him “sir”.
Former India spinner Amit Mishra called Pant “Spiderman” as the latter is fondly known after he sang ‘Spiderman Spiderman’ behind the stumps during a Test match in Australia last year.
“When in trouble, call the Spiderman!” Mishra said, adding, “What a fierce knock by rockstar Rishabh Pant against a quality english bowling unit under such circumstances. Best way to fight a fire is to fight it with the fire. #EngVsInd”
When in trouble, call the Spiderman!
What a fierce knock by rockstar Rishabh Pant against a quality english bowling unit under such circumstances. Best way to fight a fire is to fight it with the fire. #EngVsInd pic.twitter.com/q2mPeqTWyi
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) July 1, 2022
Former India Test opener Aakash Chopra said, “Rishabh Pant is India’s best ever wicket-keeper batter in ‘Tests’ …and he’s not even 25 yet. The number of Test match defining innings he’s played in just 30 matches is simply sensational.”
Rishabh Pant is India’s best ever wicket-keeper batter in ‘Tests’ …and he’s not even 25 yet. The number of Test match defining innings he’s played in just 30 matches is simply sensational. ? ? #ENGvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 2, 2022
Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan called Pant “simply amazing” and the latter thanked him as well.
@RishabhPant17 simply amazing ???
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) July 1, 2022
Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop, who is a cricket commentator and analyst now, said, “Phenomenal from Rishabh Pant. Simply outstanding. Fabulous partnership with Jadeja to given they were 98-5.”
Phenomenal from Rishabh Pant. Simply outstanding. Fabulous partnership with Jadeja to given they were 98-5.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 1, 2022
Indian cricket writer Vijay Lokapally said in a tweet, “Suddenly people are discovering Rishabh Pant’s astonishing abilities. He was no different in 2018. Just enjoy his cricket. He is once in a generation player like Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli. These three have one thing in common. All were rejected by DDCA at junior trials”
Suddenly people are discovering Rishabh Pant's astonishing abilities. He was no different in 2018. Just enjoy his cricket. He is once in a generation player like Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli. These three have one thing in common. All were rejected by DDCA at junior trials ?
— Vijay Lokapally ?? (@vijaylokapally) July 2, 2022
