London: KL Rahul put on a show with a supremely stylish century on Day 4 of the first Test against England. Rishabh Pant was not to be left behind, as he blazed away to a second century in the match to shatter some more records.
Team India benefited from Rahul and Pant’s explosive 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, racing to 298/4 at tea for an overall lead of 304 runs.
The day started on a dismal note for India as skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed to the seventh ball, playing one from Brydon Carse onto his stumps.
Rahul and Pant buckled down to the task on hand. Though Pant’s adventurism surfaced occasionally, both he and Rahul realised the importance of a big partnership. The first session produced only 63 runs, but once the England attack started tiring, the right-left combination opened up with a flurry of strokes after lunch.
If Rahul was the Rolls Royce, Pant was akin to Formula 1 race car.
Rahul brought up his ninth Test century, and was unbeaten on 120 (227 balls, 15×4) at tea.
For Pant, it was his eighth Test hundred. His 118 came off just 140 balls, and included 15 fours, 3 sixes.
The 27-year-old Pant became the second wicketkeeper in the game’s history to hit two centuries in a Test match.
He is also the first Indian batter to smash hundreds in each innings in a Test against England in England.
Overall, Pant became the seventh Indian to score two hundreds in a Test match, joining an elite league.
CENTURIES IN EACH INNIUNGS OF A TEST BY INDIANS
* Vijay Hazare
* Sunil Gavaskar (3 times)
* Rahul Dravid (2 times)
* Virat Kohli
* Ajinkya Rahane
* Rohit Sharma
* Rishabh Pant.
