IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant Becomes First Asian Wicketkeeper to Score Centuries in Both Innings. During the ongoing 1st Test match between India and England, Rishabh Pant became the first Asian wicketkeeper in history, as no Asian wicketkeeper has scored centuries in both innings of a Test match at Headingley. He scored 134 in the first inning and a stunning 118 in the second inning. Pant became the second-ever wicketkeeper, after Andy Flower of Zimbabwe, to make centuries in both innings of a Test match.
Those two innings were a brilliant display of aggression, intensity, and control. After he made a counter-attacking 134 in the first innings, which helped India recover from a difficult start, he hit a composed century in the second innings against the spin opposition. Pant reached his hundred in the second innings after a very nervy moment in the 90s with a single off the dramatic spinner Shoaib Bashir.
He also became the first Indian wicketkeeper with the most Test centuries in history and passed MS Dhoni. Pant is now the seventh overall Indian to hit centuries in both innings of a Test match and joins the illustrious company of legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli.
Sanjay Manjrekar declared Pant “India’s greatest ever Test batter-keeper.” Sunil Gavaskar was also on commentary and was jokingly imploring Pant to somersault as he celebrated.
Also Read: IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 3 Highlights: Bumrah’s Fifer, India 90/2 At Stumps
With India having already set England a massive target for the fourth innings, Pant’s double century could ultimately turn out to be the match- and series-defining performance.
