Watch: Sunil Gavaskar urges twin centurion Rishabh Pant for somersault celebration
Rishabh Pant lit up Headingley not once, but twice. The India vice-captain scored his second century of the match on Day 4 of the Headingley Test against England on June 23 — and while the cricketing world stood up to applaud the historic feat, one man had just one demand:'Do the flip again!'That man was Sunil Gavaskar.The India legend, watching from the commentary box, was all smiles as Pant raised his bat after bringing up a stunning 130-ball hundred in the second innings. The crowd roared, teammates applauded, and Gavaskar — like a true fan — was seen gesturing animatedly from the stands, asking Pant to bring out his now-iconic front flip celebration, which he had performed after his first-innings century.advertisement
ENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 4: UpdatesWatch the video:- !Take a bow, @RishabhPant17, brilliant would be an understatement! #ENGvIND 1st Test Day 4 LIVE NOW Streaming on JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/4A1Poe5jbC— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 23, 2025But Pant, always the entertainer, had other plans.Instead of flipping, he cheekily responded with the popular "finger-eye" celebration, made famous by former England footballer Dele Alli — a clear sign that the flip was being saved for later.Pant became just the second wicketkeeper in Test cricket history — after Andy Flower — to score centuries in both innings of a Test. His first-innings 134 was followed up by a masterful 118, before he was eventually dismissed by Shoaib Bashir. The knock also gave him his seventh Test hundred, the most by an Indian wicketkeeper.Just a few deliveries earlier, India opener KL Rahul had brought up a stylish, composed century of his own — and his 195-run stand with Pant firmly strengthened India's lead over England as the match headed into its decisive final phase.- Ends
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United News of India
37 minutes ago
- United News of India
India set 371 target as England survive six overs
Leeds, June 23 (UNI) India ended a dramatic fourth day of the first Test at Headingley firmly in control, setting England a challenging target of 371 runs after their second innings folded at 364 on Monday. In response, a cautious England reached 21 without loss at stumps, with openers Zak Crawley (12 batting) and Ben Duckett (9 batting), surviving six testing overs in fading light. At the heart of India's dominance were sublime centuries from KL Rahul (137) and Rishabh Pant (118), who constructed a monumental 195-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Resuming at 153/3 after a slow-moving morning session, the pair switched gears post-lunch, dismantling the English attack with contrasting styles — Rahul steady and classical, Pant explosive and instinctive. Rahul brought up his century off 202 balls with a flurry of crisp drives and resolute defence. It was an innings of immense control and concentration, one of his finest in overseas conditions. Pant, meanwhile, added flair to India's innings, completing his second hundred of the match in just 130 deliveries. He shifted momentum decisively in the second session, launching a blistering attack on both pace and spin. His innings, laced with 13 boundaries and 2 sixes, left England scrambling for answers. The duo's dominance seemed to have pushed India into an impregnable position, as they reached 298 for 4 at tea with a lead of 304. However, Pant's dismissal shortly after the break — caught at deep midwicket trying to accelerate against Shoaib Bashir—opened the floodgates. The introduction of the second new ball in the 81st over proved decisive. From 333 for 4, India suffered yet another lower-order collapse, losing six wickets for just 31 runs. Bashir, James Anderson, and Chris Woakes shared the spoils as India folded in 96 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 25. England's reply began under testing conditions. The pitch, by now showing clear signs of wear, offered uneven bounce and occasional seam movement. Jasprit Bumrah got three overs in before stumps, but Crawley and Duckett looked assured, opting for caution. Duckett's leave of three successive balls became a minor talking point on an otherwise quiet end to a pulsating day. As stumps were called at 18:30 local time, there was a sense of anticipation hanging over the Test, with all results within the realm of possibility. Earlier in the day, India had resumed on their overnight score of 90 for 2, and moved slowly through a disciplined morning session. England's bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse and Woakes, kept things tight. Shubman Gill, who resumed on 38, was the only wicket to fall before lunch, edging Carse behind after a probing spell. Rahul and Pant then stitched together a measured 50-run stand through the remainder of the session, adding only 63 runs in 27 overs, the slowest phase of the match. India's scoring rate changed drastically in the second session, with both Rahul and Pant reaching their centuries. England's fielding, however, let them down. Rahul was dropped on 71 by Ben Duckett at gully —a moment that could prove costly. Pant, too, offered a top edge and a tight LBW appeal early in his innings but settled down and played with freedom as the partnership flourished. Brief scores: India 2nd Innings: 364 all out in 96.0 overs (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118; Shoaib Bashir 3/67, Chris Woakes 2/56) England 2nd Innings: 21/0 in 6.0 overs (Zak Crawley 12 batting, Ben Duckett 9 batting) UNI BDN SSP
News18
40 minutes ago
- News18
India Set England A Tricky 371-Run Target In Leeds Test
However, India's batting crumbled spectacularly for the second time in three days after the dismissal of the two second-innings centurions, as they were all out for 364 on a gripping day. Ben Duckett (9 not out) and Zak Crawley (12 not out) reduced the target to 350 after England reached 21 for no loss at stumps. India lost most of their wickets in the final session. This was after the iconic 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles played softly in the background as Pant closed in on his eighth Test ton, eventually reaching it with a single off 130 balls to join Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower as the only wicketkeepers to achieve this remarkable feat. Having curbed his natural instincts after attempting a flashy shot in the first session, Pant bided his time and switched gears post-lunch to reach his second century of the match, following his magnificent 134 in the first innings. He embarked on an adventure straightaway, but after enduring a few nervy moments, Pant exhibited tenacity to stay at the crease, before cutting loose to dominate the bowlers, who seemed to have run out of ideas in the face of his dazzling array of strokes. Pant was finally dismissed when he found Zak Crawley at long-on off Shoaib Bashir, who was taken to the cleaners by the swashbuckling keeper-batter, who also became the first Indian to score two hundreds in a Test match in England. Earlier in the day, Rahul, who was rewarded for his indefatigable resistance, produced a masterclass in timing and temperament, playing some sublime strokes that would have delighted the purists. Ahead by 96 runs at the start, India had a disastrous beginning as they lost skipper Shubman Gill seven balls into the day's play, but the English bowlers did not taste further success in the first session, though they kept testing the two batters with their probing line and length. On a windy and cloudy morning at Headingley, Gill chopped Brydon Carse's good-length delivery onto the stumps. Coming off an elegant hundred in the first innings, Gill was rooted to the crease as the ball cramped him for room before disturbing the stumps. As he walked back to the dressing room, a dejected Gill stared at the spot where the ball landed, wondering if it had pitched on one of those cracks. Advertisement England were delighted to see the back of the India captain, paving the way for the arrival of Pant, who was his usual maverick self while attempting the audacious shots that define his batting. Pant rode his luck as he charged down the ground to try and hit the fast bowlers, and while he could not connect as he would have liked initially, he got runs off them. Pant got off the mark with a thick outside edge off Chris Woakes that flew over the slip cordon. The flamboyant keeper attempted the slog sweep, the trademark falling paddle sweep, and was also heard scolding himself on the stump mic after playing a reckless shot, which prompted Ben Stokes to seek a review. 'It is not important. If you want to hit, do it with a straight bat next ball. Why are you trying to score forcefully," an annoyed Pant was caught saying on the stump mic. advetisement The ball in question was too full and swinging, but it made contact with the bat before thudding into Pant's pads, and the TV umpire ruled in his favour. Stokes, too, heard two noises but since the batter was Pant, the English captain opted to try his luck with a review. Rahul looked calm, composed, and self-assured at the other end, helping India swell the lead brick by brick, even as Pant mixed caution with aggression.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Two good': Sanjiv Goenka lauds Rishabh Pant's aggression, gives special mention to KL Rahul
NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka took to social media to celebrate as and slammed centuries in India's second innings against England during the first Test at Headingley Cricket Stadium in Leeds on Monday, June 23. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Pant created history by becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batsman to score centuries in both innings of a Test and the first Indian to do so in England. Pant, who currently captains the Lucknow franchise in the IPL, smashed 118 off 140 balls in the second innings. Rahul, the franchise's first captain from 2022 to 2024, scored a patient 137 off 247 deliveries. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "Two good! Back-to-back centuries for @RishabhPant17. Aggressive, audacious, brilliant. Only the second wicketkeeper in history to score a century in both innings of a Test. Congratulations also to @klrahul for his hundred," Goenka posted on X. The duo stitched together a vital 195-run stand for the fifth wicket after India lost skipper early on Day 3 for just 8. Their partnership powered India to set a target of over 350 for England. In the first innings, Pant had scored 134 in India's total of 477. Rahul, who now holds the record for the most centuries by an Asian opener in England, made 42 after England opted to bowl first. Greenstone Lobo predicts winner of IND vs ENG series | Who Has the Astrological Edge? The Lucknow Super Giants franchise, owned by Goenka, was formed in 2022. Rahul led the team for three seasons before Pant took over the captaincy. The Rahul-Pant partnership played a crucial role in India's dominance in the match, helping the visitors recover from an early setback and firmly take control.
