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

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.

Read AlsoRishabh Pant fires fastest century by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket

Swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant scored a scintillating 89-ball century against England on Day 1 of the 5th rescheduled Test against England in Birmingham. The quickfire ton from Rishabh is now the fastest by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket.

Punching Stuart Broad off the back foot, essaying the falling lofted drive off Jack Leach, carting him one-handed over long-on, reverse scooping Anderson over the slips and pulling Matthew Potts behind square and on-driving him between mid-on and mid-wicket, Pant's wagon wheel on Friday will show that he targeted every area of this iconic venue in Birmingham.

While enterprise and courage were the underlying theme of his innings, don't underestimate the thought and steel behind the effort. He started batting a