Rishabh Pant Breaks Records and Sparks Headingley Alight with a Stunning Century

Rishabh Pant kicked off the five-match Test series against England in some style, slamming his seventh Test century on Day 2 of the opening match at Headingley. It was vintage Pant—full of swagger, grit, and audacity. And as milestones tumbled around him, he reminded everyone exactly why he's considered one of the most dangerous wicketkeeper-batters in the world.

With this knock, Pant moved past MS Dhoni’s tally of six Test tons, becoming the Indian wicketkeeper with the most centuries in the longest format. That alone is a remarkable feat, considering the legacy Dhoni left behind. But Pant didn’t stop there—his name now sits alongside Matt Prior, Kumar Sangakkara, AB de Villiers, and BJ Watling, all of whom have seven centuries as wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket. He’s also now in a league of his own when it comes to scoring hundreds in England. Pant’s three centuries as a visiting wicketkeeper-batter in the UK are unmatched—no other overseas keeper has more than one.  

Even before reaching three figures, Pant was rewriting records. On Day 1, he edged past Rohit Sharma to become India’s leading six-hitter in World Test Championship matches. The two were tied at 56 sixes, but Pant, despite having played six fewer games, launched two more into the stands to move ahead. Only Ben Stokes, with 83, has hit more sixes in the WTC era. He also overtook Dhoni once again, becoming the most successful Asian wicketkeeper in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries. He also crossed 3,000 Test runs—only the second Indian wicketkeeper to achieve that milestone after Dhoni. 

Pant walked in after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal and quickly got going, greeting Ben Stokes with a boundary early on. However, the English bowlers soon took the upper edge, as they forced Pant back into his shell. But once Shubman Gill also reached his hundred, Pant pressed the accelerator. He took the attack to the England bowlers with even more intensity. Whether it was Brydon Carse or Chris Woakes, Pant wasn’t backing down. Even in the final over of the day, there was no hint of caution. 

On Day 2, Pant reached his century in fitting fashion—off 146 balls, reaching the mark with a jaw-dropping one-handed six off Shoaib Bashir. It was classic Pant: unorthodox and fearless. He soaked in the applause from the Headingley crowd, then delighted fans with a celebratory somersault. This innings was more than just another hundred. It was a reminder of Pant’s ability to change the tempo of a match in a session. And with India looking to make a statement in England, there couldn’t have been a better way to start than with Pant leading the charge. 

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