Former Indian cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his fearless century in the second innings against England at Leeds. Shastri noted that behind Pant’s bold shot-making lies a sharp cricketing mind. Pant, along with KL Rahul, struck centuries in the second innings, helping India build a lead of over 300 runs and putting the team in a commanding position heading into the final day. While KL Rahul’s century was marked by calmness and technical precision, Pant lit up the innings with his trademark aggressive and entertaining style of play.
Shastri Praises Rishabh Pant Masterclass and Key Match Highlights
According to Sky Sports, Shastri said Rishabh Pant’s innings has given India a lot of food for thought. “There is plenty of food for thought, but India will be very happy after a technical masterpiece from Rahul and the flamboyance and exuberance that you can imagine from Pant,” he said.
“People say Rishabh Pant batting defies logic, but there is an element of a sharp cricket brain behind it. He knows when to counterattack,” Shastri added.
He also noted that Pant could have had double-digit Test centuries if he had converted his seven dismissals in the 90s into hundreds.
Regarding the match, at Tea India were 298/4, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 120 and Karun Nair 4*. Rishabh Pant scored 118 in the second innings—his second century of the match—and solidified the innings with a crucial 195-run partnership with Rahul.
India began the second session at 153/3, with Pant (31) and Rahul (72) unbeaten. The pair launched a brilliant counterattack against the English bowling, both reaching centuries. Pant was eventually dismissed for 118 off 140 balls, hitting 15 fours and three sixes.
India ended the first session at 153/3, with vice-captain Pant on 31* and Rahul on 72*.
Despite early pressure from Carse, who dismissed Shubman Gill for 8 and left India at 92/3, Team India managed to build a solid platform to launch their attack for the rest of the match—though England had their chances.
The final session of day three was cut short due to rain. Rahul was joined by captain Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 6*. India finished at 90/2.
England started the second session at 327/5, with Harry Brook (57) and Jamie Smith (29) unbeaten. Brook continued his counterattack while Smith (40 off 52 balls with five fours and a six), Chris Woakes (38 off 55 balls with three fours and two sixes), and Brydon Carse (22 off 23 balls with four boundaries) all contributed useful runs.
Rishabh Pant: Brook narrowly missed out on his century, scoring 99 off 112 balls with 11 fours and two sixes before being caught by Shardul Thakur off Prasidh Krishna at deep backward square leg. A 55-run partnership between Woakes and Carse helped England cross the 400-run mark, threatening to surpass India’s first innings total before Jasprit Bumrah intervened.
Bumrah (5/83) and Krishna (3/128) were the standout bowlers as England was bowled out for 465.
England began the first session of the day at 209/3, with Ollie Pope (100) and Brook (0) unbeaten. Prasidh Krishna struck early to remove Pope, who scored 106 off 137 balls with 14 fours. Brook then built partnerships of 51 runs with skipper Ben Stokes (20 off 52 balls) and 73 runs with Smith, pushing England well past 300 by the session’s end.
Notably, on day two, Ollie Pope’s century and Ben Duckett’s 62 provided valuable contributions for England.
