Maybe Rishabh Pant’s six off Chris Woakes within the remaining over of day one was an indication of the fireworks to come back on day two at Headingley.
When most Check batters would have performed for the shut, ensured they’d nonetheless be on the crease the next morning, Pant opted to cost down the wicket and wallop England’s Woakes into the stands over deep midwicket. As ever, he thought in a different way.
That eye-popping shot got here after a largely sedate knock as much as that time with the India vice-captain reining himself as he ushered new skipper Shubman Gill via to a cultured century.
However Pant expressed himself to the max within the the opening session on Saturday with a swashbuckling, unorthodox show of batting.
Sixes, a somersault, the ‘falling paddle’ as Ravi Shastri coined one audacious shot. There was majesty and insanity in equal measure as Pant hacked and smacked his strategy to 134 from an in a single day 65.
From ‘silly, silly, silly’ to ‘very good, very good, very good’
India legend Sunil Gavaskar had uttered the phrases “stupid, stupid, stupid” whereas on commentary when Pant fell to a failed scoop through the sequence defeat in Australia this winter however was saying “superb, superb, superb” after this arresting knock in Leeds.
You could not take your eyes off it – even when Pant himself did simply that with an tried no-look flick off Ben Stokes’ bowling.
It was shortly earlier than drinks when the falling paddle was first performed – Pant scooping Shoaib Bashir over leg slip for 4 earlier than falling to the turf. A couple of balls later he carted Bashir for six into the well-lubricated followers within the Western Terrace. However the perfect was to come back.
“One or six, what’s it going to be?” was the query posed by Sky Sports activities commentator Ian Ward as Pant started the a centesimal over of the innings, bowled by Bashir, on 99. The latter, Wardy, the latter…
And what a six it was. Eased over midwicket with one hand off the bat. And what a celebration it was. A somersault that Olympic gymnast Simone Biles would have been pleased with.
“This fella is box office. One of the great entertainers and one of the best hundred celebrations I have seen. He’s a character this boy, isn’t he!?” was Ward’s response – earlier than a six over long-off two balls later confirmed Pant’s enjoyable was not over but.
Pant’s hundred was his second in Exams since a horrific automobile crash in December 2022
‘Pant has his personal laptop and solely he is aware of the way it works’
You by no means fairly knew what was coming subsequent – a block, a go away, a swipe or excessive innovation – however you knew it could be value watching. Even his dismissal was eccentric. Getting in an terrible place whereas opting to not play a shot in opposition to Josh Tongue and trapped plumb lbw. Entertainment over.
However he had completed his job, swelling India’s rating on day two having performed with nice restraint on day one when maybe aware the person beneath him within the order Karun Nair – who went on to make a duck – was enjoying his first Check in eight years – and that India possess an extended tail, one England finally ripped via.
Methodology to his insanity.
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Talking earlier than the Headingley Check, Pant mentioned he was grateful to not be dealing with the now-retired James Anderson and Stuart Broad
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri mentioned of Pant on Sky Sports activities Cricket: “Outrageous. He plays the numbers game beautifully, plays the way he wants. He will block for a bit and then shift gears.
“He has his personal laptop and solely he is aware of the way it works. That is his USP. That is what places bowlers underneath stress and makes him field workplace, an actual entertainer and a match winner.”
Pant back at the top after 2022 car crash
Pant’s knock – his seventh Test century and second since a major car crash in late 2022 that could have cost him his life – may not prove match-winning with England fighting back well in Leeds, initially with the ball and later on with the bat as Ollie Pope justified his selection over Jacob Bethell with a ninth Test hundred.
But it was a joy to watch and clearly from Pant’s acrobatics after his hundred-sealing six, it meant an awful lot to him, particularly after that horror accident three years ago.
Pant is one in all cricket’s nice entertainers
Shastri added: “That’s why there was that celebration. Thanking the man upstairs for giving him the opportunity.
“I feel his restoration from that accident had lots to do with the body of his physique and being mid-20s.
“When I saw him in hospital, it wasn’t a pretty sight. Knee in a mess, scars all over the place, bruises all over the place.”
Fortunately it’s now simply glowing strokes far and wide. The nice entertainer is again doing what he does finest. Excellent, very good, very good.
Watch day three of the primary Check between England and India stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion from 10.15am on Sunday (11am first ball) or stream with no contract.
England vs India Check sequence ☀️
All video games at 11am UK and Eire; all stay on Sky Sports activities
- First Check: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – Headingley
- Second Check: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – Edgbaston
- Third Check: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’s
- Fourth Check: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Emirates Previous Trafford
- Fifth Check: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval
