Rishabh Pant's audacious century at Headingley in the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has been the talk of the cricketing world. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman reached his seventh Test century, surpassing MS Dhoni's record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. Pant's innings was a blend of calculated aggression and unorthodox strokeplay, leaving spectators and experts in awe.
Pant's century was not just about the runs he scored, but also the manner in which he scored them. He reached the milestone in 146 balls, which is considered a measured innings for him, especially considering his reputation for explosive hitting. This innings was his slowest Test century, demonstrating a different facet of his batting. Pant's innings included 12 fours and six sixes, with one six bringing up his century.
India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, noted that Pant "makes his own plans." Kotak further added, "He decides (the way) and (then) he bats. This innings was a little different than you would see him normally but honestly that is all his plans... because he plays aggressive (cricket) does not mean he cannot play defensive." Kotak's words highlight Pant's independent approach to batting and his ability to adapt his game to the situation.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri echoed similar sentiments, describing Pant as an "outrageous" player who "has his own computer and only he knows how it works." Shastri emphasized that Pant "plays the numbers game beautifully and plays the way he wants. He will block for a bit and then decides he has to go after the bowler and shift gears." This unique approach is what makes Pant a "box office" player, a "real entertainer and a match winner," according to Shastri.
Sachin Tendulkar also praised Pant's "extremely clever" batting style, highlighting the "falling paddle sweep" as an example of his intentional and innovative approach. Tendulkar also noted the mind games Pant and Shubman Gill played with the English bowlers by conversing in Hindi, disrupting their rhythm.
However, Pant's unconventional approach has also drawn criticism in the past. Sunil Gavaskar famously called one of Pant's dismissals "stupid, stupid, stupid" after a poor shot selection in a previous match. But after Pant's century at Headingley, Gavaskar was full of praise, calling it "superb, superb, superb."
Dinesh Karthik suggested that Pant's aggressive style may have been curbed by a message from head coach Gautam Gambhir, speculating that Pant might have been instructed to alter his approach following the quick dismissals of Shubman Gill and Karun Nair. Karthik emphasized the importance of understanding how to communicate with a player like Pant to unlock his full potential.
Pant's century also broke several records. He now has the most Test centuries for an Indian wicketkeeper, surpassing MS Dhoni. This was also his third Test century on English soil, a feat unmatched by any other visiting wicketkeeper. Pant has also surpassed MS Dhoni to record the most Test sixes by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter with 79 sixes, placing him only behind Adam Gilchrist's 100 Test sixes.
Adding to the spectacle, Pant celebrated his century with his signature somersault, a skill he developed through gymnastics training. This acrobatic celebration, reminiscent of his IPL antics, went viral and added to the excitement surrounding his innings.
Pant's century at Headingley was a testament to his unique talent, his ability to adapt, and his fearless approach to the game. As Sitanshu Kotak said, "Rishabh Pant is someone who makes his own plans," and on this occasion, his plans resulted in a memorable and record-breaking innings.
