London: As former England captain and TV commentator Michael Vaughan says, Rishabh Pant is “box office”.
When Pant is at the crease, don’t take your eyes off the TV set.
He can defend when you are expecting him to go berserk, and then a few overs later, against the run of play, the left-hander will attempt a shot that only exists in his stylebook.
It was with one such incredible stroke – a one-handed six over mid-wicket – that Pant brought up his seventh Test century on Day 2 of the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds on Saturday. It was the third time Pant had reached a century against England with an overboundary.
And then came the celebration – a signature cartwheel and somersault — before skipper Shubman Gill got a chance to greet him with a warm hug.
Watch the video clip of Pant’s celebration which has gone viral on X:
🚨ONE OF THE UNIQUE CELEBRATION BY RISHABH PANT🚨
-THIS CELEBRATION STARTS IN LUCKNOW DURING IPL AND IT’S BEEN WITH THEM EVER SINCE
— DIVYANSH CHAUHAN (@Imchauhan28) June 21, 2025
It reminded cricket watchers of a similar act of gymnastics by the flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter a month ago, after he had hammered a sensational hundred for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.
Pant ultimately fell for an entertaining 134, which came off 178 balls, and included 12 fours and 6 sixes.
After India resumed on 359/3, Pant became the third centurion of the innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and Gill (147).
Pant went past the legendary MS Dhoni for most Test centuries scored by an Indian wicketkeeper. While Pant has 7 hundreds, Dhoni had 6 and Wriddhiman Saha 3.
Gill and his deputy Pant stitched together a 209-run partnership for the fourth wicket before India slipped from 430/3 to 454/7 at lunch on the second day.
