It was a heartwarming sight in the Indian dressing room as KL Rahul greeted Rishabh Pant with folded hands and a respectful bow after the wicketkeeper-batter returned unbeaten following a gritty half-century on Day 1 of the opening Test of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy at Headingley, Leeds. The video of the moment, captured in a behind-the-scenes clip released by the BCCI, has now gone viral and has struck a chord with fans across the cricketing world.
Pant, alongside captain Shubman Gill, walked back at stumps after steering India to a commanding 359/3 at the close of play. Gill stood tall with a sublime 127 off 175 deliveries, while Pant anchored the other end with a composed 65 off 102 balls.
As the pair ascended the dressing room stairs, they were welcomed with warm applause by teammates including Rahul, Shardul Thakur, and others, who lined the corridor. Inside, head coach Gautam Gambhir embraced them with pride, joined by cheers and pats on the back from support staff and fellow players.
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The platform for Indiaโs strong performance was laid by openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (101 off 159) and KL Rahul (42 off 78). Rahul, who fell trying to drive a wide delivery from Brydon Carse, was visibly animated in his support for the middle order, especially for Pantโs brilliant effort.
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Straight from the #TeamIndia Dressing Room after the end of an exciting Day 1 at Headingley#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/oj4kWMSbeW
โ BCCI (@BCCI) June 20, 2025
Pantโs innings, known for its usual flair, showcased a new layer of restraint and maturity. Former India captain and long-time Pant critic, Sunil Gavaskar, acknowledged the growth in his approach.
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โWhen he bats, he usually takes off early. But this time, he gave himself time, waited for the bowlers to tire, and then switched gears,โ Sunil Gavaskar noted during commentary on Sony Sports. โIt was a more balanced knock โ controlled, yet dangerous.โ
With the unbeaten partnership standing at 138, India will look to build on their momentum and tighten their grip on the game as Day 2 unfolds.
