London: He is only 27 years old, but the frequency with which he’s rewriting records in Test cricket, Rishabh Pant is a legend in the making.
His charisma, his ability to turn a match with electrifying strokeplay, shots like falling scoops, his unique celebration on reaching a landmark make Pant a huge box-office hit.
On Monday, at the bright and sunny Headingley stadium in Leeds, Pant was once again in the limelight. As he raced to his second century in the opening Test against England on Day 4, 25,000-plus people at the ground rose on their feet to applaud Pant’s great feat.
Everyone in the crowd, including Sunil Gavaskar, expected Pant to launch into a back-flip somersault — just like he had done after reaching 100 in the first innings two days ago.
Seeing the delay, the legendary opener-turned-commentator gestured towards Pant to swing his body around. The cameras focused on Gavaskar, and next moment turned to Pant, who politely refused Sunny’s request.
Pant seemed to suggest he’d do the somersault next time around. Watch the video which is going viral on X:
#INDvsENG2025 #RishabhPant
Gavaskar asking for flip celebration pic.twitter.com/res5xLS970— Sarcastic_sadhu (@SadhuSarcastic) June 23, 2025
In Australia earlier this year, Gavaskar had famously cried out in anguish ‘stupid, stupid, stupid’ in the middle of a commentary stint after Pant was out trying an audacious scoop shot.
Gavaskar’s disappointment turned into ‘superb, superb, superb’ on the second day of this Test after Pant completed his century with a six.
