India vs England, 5th Test: Maverick Rishabh Pant rescues India with blistering hundred on Day 1

02.07.2022 - 06:47 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Wicketkeeper's blazing 146 stuns England; 222-run partnership with Jadeja takes India from 98/5 to 338/7 on Day OneOval, Sydney, Gabba, Motera, Newlands, Edgbaston.

The footprints of Rishabh Pant's freakish genius are fast adorning some of world cricket's most iconic venues. Friday was Edgbaston's turn to see why this young man from Delhi has become box office in Test cricket.

DAY 1: AS IT HAPPENEDComing in at 64/3 after Ben Stokes won the toss and put India in, the ball seaming around under angry, dark skies and an all-time great in James Anderson putting on a seam bowling clinic, Pant went on to score the fastest hundred by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, getting there in only 89 balls.

The hundred came courtesy a heart-stopping dive to complete the second run just an hour after tea, prompting coach Rahul Dravid in the dressing room to let out a full-throated scream.

Boxing cricket bowling India vs England Test on 1 James Anderson Rahul Dravid Rishabh Pant Jack Leach Matthew Potts India Birmingham Delhi

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Rishabh Pant was the best Indian batter in the Edgbaston Test against England with a ton and a half-century. Though it was not enough to take India to a win, his performance with the bat was lauded by all. However, his white ball form has not been great. He did not have a stellar IPL and his performance in the T20I series against South Africa was also not that great. With the 2022 T20 World Cup in less than four months' time, Pant's form is going to be crucial.

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Team India were leading 2-1 from the series played in August-September last year. Four of the five Tests were completed at that time, with one ending in a draw, led by Virat Kohli. A draw or a win in the rescheduled fifth Test would have given India another piece of silverware to add to their cabinet, but England batting stalwart and former captain Joe Root and the in-form Jonny Bairstow had different plans.

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Jonny Bairstow led England's revival on Day 3 after the Indian bowlers had taken over the proceedings of the ongoing fifth Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. After starting cautiously on Day 2, Bairstow got into his groove after England had resumed resumed play from their overnight score of 84 for five on Day 3. Virat Kohli was seen sledging Bairstow and the two were involved in a heated exchange, and this seemed to stir something in the England batter, as he teed off soon after, going on to bring up his third consecutive century off just 119 deliveries.

Rishabh Pant Is "India's Best Ever Wicketkeeper-Batter": Ex-India Cricketer

Rishabh Pant changed the complexion of the ongoing Edgbaston Test against England as he played a knock of 146 to help India post 416 runs on the board. India were 98/5 at one stage, and it was Pant and Jadeja that formed a 222-run stand to revive India's innings. Former India opening batter Aakash Chopra praised Pant for his knock, calling him India's best-ever wicketkeeper-batter.

India vs England 2022, 5th Test: There's nothing like playing well for India, says Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja said after the second day's play in the rescheduled fifth Test against England. Earlier on Saturday, he completed a well deserved century (104) -- a mature and responsible innings -- to help India reach 416, which looked unlikely after he had joined Rishabh Pant at 98/5 on the opening day of the match. "As a player, a hundred in England is very good. I was always thinking of leaving balls outside the off-stump, because discipline is important (in English conditions), otherwise you can get caught in the slips," said Jadeja who is a left-arm spinner and more than adept at batting lower down the order. "As a batsman, my self-confidence will go up."

India vs England 2022, 5th Test: I tried to disturb bowlers mentally, says Rishabh Pant

Coming out to bat when India were at a precarious 98 for 5, Pant played a knock for the ages to turn the tables on England and take India to an imposing 338 for 7 at stumps on Friday. His magnificent 111-ball innings had 19 boundaries and four sixes. "In English conditions if a bowler pitches it up, it's important to disturb his rhythm, that's what I feel," the 24-year-old Pant said during the media interaction after the end of day one's play.