Rishabh Pant once again showcased his flair for the big stage, entertaining a packed Headingley crowd with a magnificent century against England in the first Test of the much-anticipated five-match series. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter brought up his seventh Test hundred in style, even pulling off a somersault celebration that lit up Leeds and added to his growing list of iconic moments.

Pant’s dazzling innings of 134 came off just 178 balls and featured 12 boundaries and six sixes. It was a knock filled with controlled aggression, calculated risks, and moments of pure brilliance. However, his innings came to an abrupt end courtesy of Josh Tongue. On the second ball of the 108th over, Tongue delivered a sharp in-seamer on a good length.

Rishabh Pant, attempting to leave it, was struck on the pads in front of the stumps. The on-field umpire raised his finger and although Pant reviewed the decision after a discussion with Ravindra Jadeja, ball-tracking upheld the original call.

WATCH – Sunil Gavaskar Calls Rishabh Pant’s Century “Superb” After Previous Criticism

While Pant’s heroics earned him applause, former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik offered an interesting perspective during his commentary stint on Sky Sports. He criticised India head coach Gautam Gambhir for potentially disrupting Pant’s natural rhythm by sending a message during the innings. According to Karthik, Pant’s tempo visibly dipped after the communication, possibly affecting his free-flowing style.

“Pant was playing with freedom, but once that message came, he seemed to dial it back. That kind of interference may not suit players like him,” Dinesh Karthik noted. “With players like Rishabh, the delivery of a message—tone and timing—is crucial,” he added, implying that Gambhir may need to find a more nuanced way of managing Pant’s instinctive approach.

WATCH – Rishabh Pant Loses Bat and Nearly His Wicket: Jamie Smith’s Costly Miss Keeps India on Top

India, who began Day 2 in a commanding position at 359/3, stumbled just before lunch, losing four quick wickets. Gill fell for a fluent 147, followed by Karun Nair (0), Pant (134), and Shardul Thakur (1), allowing England to claw back into the contest. Despite the hiccup, Pant’s century remained the highlight, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most impactful Test batters in recent times.