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 Cars
e 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.