Rishabh Pant Creates History with Twin Centuries at Headingley
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has etched his name into the annals of cricket history, becoming just the second wicketkeeper ever to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. The swashbuckling left-hander achieved this monumental feat on Day 4 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, joining the legendary Andy Flower of Zimbabwe in this exclusive club.
Following his magnificent 134 in the first innings, Pant produced a more measured, yet equally impactful, century in the second. His innings was a captivating narrative in itself. He began with a stroke of luck, his second delivery flying off the edge for a boundary. After surviving a few more close calls, he demonstrated a rare period of restraint, curbing his natural attacking instincts to navigate a tricky phase for his team.
As he settled in, the trademark Pant aggression returned. He brought up his half-century off 82 balls before accelerating, particularly against the spinners, hitting two sixes off Shoaib Bashir to race into the nineties. Having been dismissed seven times in the nervous nineties in his career, he showed uncharacteristic caution to ensure he reached the milestone, taking 22 deliveries to score his final five runs. Unlike his exuberant celebration in the first innings, he marked his eighth Test hundred with a calm embrace of his batting partner, KL Rahul.
This historic performance not only cements Pant's reputation as one of the most exciting players in world cricket but also redefines the role of a wicketkeeper-batter in the modern game. His ability to produce two contrasting, yet equally brilliant, centuries in a single Test is a testament to his evolving maturity and undeniable match-winning ability.
