Rishabh Pant's Record-Shattering Test at Headingley
Rishabh Pant has rewritten the history books yet again, and this time at one of cricket's most historic venues. In the Leeds Test against England on June 23 and 24, 2025, Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score two centuries in a single Test match, clocking scores of 134 in the first innings and an impressive, dogged 118 in the second. This isn’t just a random statistical quirk—it's a massive statement, both for Pant and for Indian cricket.
This rare double has happened only once before among wicketkeepers worldwide—Andy Flower managed it for Zimbabwe back in 2001. To see an Indian player achieve this on English soil, with all its historic baggage and swing-friendly pitches, is even more striking. Pant also becomes the very first Indian batter, not just wicketkeeper, to get centuries in both innings of a Test match in England. That puts him in a special category—one that's eluded some of India’s greatest batters till now.
Adaptability on Display and Key Partnerships
What stands out the most is how Pant adapted across the two innings. In the first, he launched his trademark counterattack—picking gaps, sending balls over the ropes, upsetting England’s bowlers with his quick feet and unconventional shots. That 134 set the platform. But when the pressure mounted during the second innings, Pant showed restraint and patience, building a measured 118. He didn't just swing for the fences—he soaked up the pressure, protected his wicket, and picked the right moments to attack.
His partnership with KL Rahul—worth 195 runs—was the backbone in that second innings. Fans at Headingley watched as the pair denied England any momentum, steering the match firmly in India’s favor. Watching Pant hit different gears depending on the team’s needs is proof of how far he’s come since exploding onto the scene with raw talent and nerves of steel.
To understand how huge this is, just consider the exclusive club Pant has joined. Twin centuries in a Test match for India is a list previously graced by Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar (who did it three times), and Rahul Dravid (who managed it twice). These are legends who helped define eras for Indian cricket. There’s now a serious discussion about whether Pant could one day break Dravid’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian batter.
Pant’s remarkable effort wasn’t just about the runs, but the way he scored them. In his first knock, he went after the English bowling attack with intent; in the second, he proved to doubters that he could play long, tough innings under pressure. This performance in England—a country where so many Asian batters find their methods and patience tested—has only cemented his place as a modern great. While debates about wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket never die, Pant is ensuring his name won’t be left out of future conversations.
