You let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant: KL Rahul on India's mercurial match-winner
India batter KL Rahul believes there's no point trying to decode Rishabh Pant's unpredictable batting - instead, the best approach is to simply let him be. "It is hard for us to understand his mindset but you let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant," Rahul said after sharing a match-defining partnership with the wicketkeeper on Day 4 of the first Test at Headingley.advertisementPant's thrilling strokeplay not only lit up the fourth day but also earned him a place in the record books. The 27-year-old became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score hundreds in both innings of a Test against England, and just the second wicketkeeper in Test history - after Zimbabwe's Andy Flower - to achieve the feat."There is obviously a method to his madness as he is averaging 45 in Test cricket," Rahul said. "There is a lot of thinking about the outrageous shots he plays. You just try to calm him down as much as possible between balls."
Pant's second-innings century came with its fair share of drama. Shortly after the early loss of captain Shubman Gill on Monday morning, Pant attempted a reckless hoick that nearly resulted in his dismissal. Luckily for India, a gust of Headingley breeze helped the ball elude the fielder and drift towards the fine-leg boundary.advertisementENG vs IND 1st Test Day 4 HighlightsWhat followed was vintage Pant - a whirlwind of intent, instinct, and audacity. At one point, the stump mic even caught him knocking himself on the helmet after playing a rash shot, a rare glimpse into his internal battle between impulse and restraint.Rahul, who struck a composed century of his own, combined with Pant to stitch together a 195-run fourth-wicket stand - one that shifted the momentum decisively in India's favour. Their efforts allowed India to post a formidable second-innings total and set England a target of 371 on a pitch showing signs of variable bounce.Pant's fourth Test century in England now puts him level with the most by any wicketkeeper in the country - including English players. As Rahul rightly pointed out, there's a unique logic behind Pant's madness, one that defies convention but delivers results.In a team full of structure and plans, Pant remains the glorious exception. You don't try to fix Rishabh Pant. You let him be Rishabh Pant.- EndsYou May Also Like
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
'Virat Kohli felt it was time to go': Sourav Ganguly ends all speculations behind India star's Test retirement
Sourav Ganguly has put an end to all rumours and speculations surrounding Virat Kohli's retirement, saying the former captain knew it was his time to leave the format. Kohli announced his retirement on May 12, four days after The Indian Express had reported that he had informed the BCCI of his decision to bring curtains down on a 14-year-long career. It also stated that the BCCI tried to convince Kohli otherwise, but Kohli made up his mind. However, as No. 269 signed off, multiple fan theories emerged that Kohli was pushed into retirement, more so because, despite enduring a poor series in Australia, he turned up to play Ranji Trophy for Delhi. Virat Kohli, left, and Sourav Ganguly share a laugh during an event in 2018(AFP) Weighing in on the same, Ganguly, who worked closely with Kohli during his time as president of the BCCI, emphasised that a player of Kohli's stature would know best where he and his form stand. He was just 36, and having already stepped away from T20Is, Kohli had at least a couple of years of cricket more in him. Like everyone, even Ganguly was taken aback by the decision to retire, but insisted that great players, irrespective of how pushed they are, take their own calls without any influence or pressure. Also Read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma far from confirmed for 2027 World Cup, warns Sourav Ganguly "I would say it's very irrelevant. My terms, someone else's terms. As a player, you understand. As a player everyone understands where he stands at the moment. Just look at Virat. Everybody says why. I know he didn't have the best five years in Test cricket but champions like him rediscover. And I guarantee that if he was on this tour of England, he would have scored runs. But he felt it was time to go," Ganguly told PTI. Ganguly explained Kohli's retirement through his own experience. He was 37 years old when Ganguly retired from Test cricket. He never played T20Is and had not featured in an ODI for India for over a year. With the Indian team building towards the 2011 World Cup, younger, fresher and more dynamic players was the road ahead. Ganguly would have been 40, touching 41 by then, so while the fire inside never doused, the left-handed batter felt he'd done enough. Since he was sacked as captain and subsequently dropped from the team, Ganguly was constantly under trial by fire, and hence, despite playing the best cricket of his life in 2006-2007 – he scored more ODI runs than any other Indian batter – Dada opted to leave with 'why' rather than 'why not'. Ganguly exited the stage because he knew it was his time, and he feels the same applies to Kohli. 'Just 36 years old': Ganguly surprised by Kohli's decision "Everything has to come to an end. A lot of us got surprised with Virat Kohli retiring. Just 36 years old. Fit, although he still plays IPL and one-day cricket, it's never the same," added Ganguly. "You have to finish playing someday, and for me, I thought it was the best time for me to finish, and I did." Ganguly played his last for India in a Test match against Australia in Nagpur, getting out for a golden duck.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Bad news for star player from Sanjiv Goenka's LSG, the ICC have decided...
Rishabh Pant is captain of Sanjiv Goenka's LSG team. He was bought for a record price of Rs 27 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. Rishabh Pant became first Indian batter to score centuries in both innings in England. He scored 118 in the second innings of 1st Test at Headingley in Leeds on Monday. Image credit: X (Formerly Twitter) Rishabh Pant has been reprimanded by the ICC on Tuesday ahead of Day 5 of the 1st Test. Pant was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'showing dissent at an Umpire's decision during an International Match'. In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Pant's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. Rishabh Pant has admitted to the offence and sanction of ICC proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing. The incident occurred towards the end of the 61st over of England's first innings, when the umpires checked the shape of the ball with the ball gauge and decided not to change it. Pant showed dissent at the umpires' decision by throwing the ball on the ground in front of the umpires. Rishabh Pant became only 2nd wicketkeeper to score century in both innings of a Test match after Zimbabwe's Andy Flower. The Zimbabwean had scored 141 and 199 not out in a Test match vs South Africa in 2001. Rishabh Pant equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record for most hundreds for India in England with his 4th ton. He needs two more hundreds to get level with former India captain Rahul Dravid. Rishabh Pant also became the highest-scoring Indian wicketkeeper in a single Test match with 252 runs against England in the 1st Test. He surpassed Budhi Kunderan, who scored 230 runs against England in Chennai in 1964.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Rishabh Pant reprimanded by ICC for 'showing dissent' to umpire Paul Reiffel in Headingley Test
One demerit point has been added to Rishabh Pant's disciplinary record after he was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. read more Rishabh Pant was punished by ICC for showing dissent to umpire Paul Reiffel as he threw away a ball after an argument. Image: Reuters Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for 'showing dissent' to umpire Paul Reiffel during the ongoing Test match against England at Headingley, Leeds. ICC has found him guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day of the first Test against England on Sunday. Also Read | ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 5 LIVE Blog Pant was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'showing dissent at an Umpire's decision during an International Match.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One demerit point has been added to Pant's record In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Pant's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. The incident occurred towards the end of the 61st over of England's first innings, when the umpires checked the shape of the ball with the ball gauge and decided not to change it. Pant showed dissent at the umpires' decision by throwing the ball on the ground in front of the umpires. Pant admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Also Read | Rishabh Pant's record-breaking twin tons put India in command, but it's still anybody's game On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Mike Burns levelled the charge. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.
