Stats: Rishabh Pant rewrites record books with mind-boggling 146 in rescheduled Test

The much-awaited fifth and final rescheduled Test between England and India kicked off on Friday, July 1, and it was worth the wait as the match oscillated from one side to another on the opening day of this thrilling Test. India were put in to bat first after Ben Stokes called it right at the toss. The Indian team had a tough task on their hands as their makeshift opening pair of Shubhman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara had to negotiate the early threat of James Anderson in overcast conditions, a daunting task to say the least.

India were off to a steady start as a watchful Pujara was reluctant to commit to balls outside the off-stump while Gill was playing his shots. But an unwarranted poke from the young Indian opener was the reason for his demise against a probing Anderson. Wickets kept tumbling after that, and India were in deep waters at 98/5.

English bowlers were on the ascendency and sniffed an early advantage in the match. But Rishabh Pant had other ideas as he came out swinging and playing himself out of trouble. The southpaw flayed the England bowling attack with his typical audacious and nonchalant shots. The 24-year-old dished out a heavy dose of ‘Baz-ball’ to the English bowlers and showed that they are not the only team who can play entertaining, counter-attacking cricket.

Pant’s flamboyance was complemented well by veteran Ravindra Jadeja’s calmness, who showcased his importance with the bat yet again. The partnership between the duo was significant for the visitors as they recorded 222 runs for the sixth wicket in under 40 overs. Joe Root eventually dismissed the dangerous wicketkeeper-batter for 146 off just 111 deliveries, one of the finest Test knocks ever, as the crowd rose for a rousing round of applause for India’s hero. In his quest to guide India to safety, the young batter broke numerous records on the day.

Let’s take a look at the records Rishabh Pant broke on Day 1 of the Birmingham Test :

89 – Pant’s century off 89 deliveries is the fastest by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests.

89 – The southpaw also recorded the second-fastest Test ton by an Indian on England soil.

222 – Ravindra Jadeja and Pant stitched a 222-run stand, the highest sixth-wicket partnership against England for India.

146 – The southpaw was dismissed after scoring 146 runs, the second-highest score by a wicketkeeper in Tests at Edgbaston.

89 – The 24-year-old also recorded the fastest Test century in Tests at Edgbaston.

5 – Pant has now scored five centuries since his Test debut in 2018, no other wicketkeeper has scored more than three in this duration.

1333 – Since his Test debut, Rishabh Pant has scored 1333 runs for India in away Tests, which is second only to Pujara’s 1576 in this period.