Stats: Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul score quick-fire centuries on Day 5

When KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were in the middle of that partnership that was the only time India would’ve even so slightly hoped that they could chase down the target of 464 despite losing three wickets for just two runs. Rahul initiated a recovery by virtue of a century stand with Ajinkya Rahane but the Indian vice-captain and debutant Hanuma Vihari got out in a quick space. The sixth-wicket pair then stitched on a record 204-run partnership which came at a good rate.

Both Pant and Rahul completed their centuries in the same time from the start of the innings. The opening batsman needed 118 balls for his first ton of the series while Pant brought up his century with a six in 117 balls. They occupy the second and third spots in the list of fastest centuries in Test cricket for India in England. Mohammad Azharuddin is undisputed at the top of the list as he got there in just 87 deliveries for reaching the 3-digit figure at the Lord’s.

Fastest centuries in Test cricket in England for India:

In the same tour, Kapil Dev scored a 130-ball hundred also at The Oval which was surpassed twice in two hours by the Indian batsmen. Syed Mushtaq Ali, who was the first centurion in England for India, needed somewhere between 135 and 140 balls for that century. The Rahul-Pant duo’s efforts are also placed at 2nd and 3rd in the list of fastest centuries by Indians in the 4th innings of a Test match.

The list is headed by Sourav Ganguly who took 106 balls for his century against New Zealand in the 1999 Hamilton Test. In the same innings, Rahul Dravid raised his hundred in 136 balls which was surpassed on as many as six instances. Yuvraj Singh scored a 122-ball ton against Pakistan in the 2006 Karachi Test while his partners kept getting out in pursuit of a huge target. Virat Kohli has scored two centuries in the 4th innings both coming in 2014; one off 129 balls and other in 135.

Fastest centuries in 4th innings of a Test for India:

(Stats as on September 11, 2018)

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