Pant Eyes Place Among Cricket Greats: Can He Achieve Landmark Century in England Test?

Rishabh Pant (Getty Image)

NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant stands on the verge of joining an elite group of visiting batsmen as India prepares for the second Test of the series against England at Edgbaston, commencing on July 2nd.

Fresh off his impressive twin centuries at Headingley, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is just one century away from inclusion in a legendary list featuring names like Don Bradman, Rahul Dravid, and Brian Lara.

Pant delivered a spectacular performance in the first Test at Leeds, smashing 134 and 118, displaying a wide array of impressive shots in both innings. Despite India's five-wicket defeat after setting England a target of 371, Pant's audacious stroke-making and remarkable resilience were the standout features of the match.

He currently boasts a record of 808 runs in 10 Tests in England, maintaining an average of 42.52, and including four centuries. His highest score on English soil – a breathtaking 146 off just 111 balls – was achieved at Edgbaston in 2022. In that innings he rescued India from a precarious 98 for 5, ultimately helping the team reach a first-innings total of 416. Although India ultimately suffered defeat in that match, Pant's innings remains one of the finest ever played by an Indian wicketkeeper overseas.

If Pant manages to score another century at Edgbaston, he will become only the seventh visiting batsman to achieve the distinction of scoring centuries in three successive Tests in England. The exclusive list includes legends such as Don Bradman, Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, and Daryl Mitchell. Rahul Dravid remains the only Indian player to have accomplished this feat, achieving it back in 2002.

Pant, already the record holder for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper and the most runs by an Asian wicketkeeper in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), now has a golden opportunity to further cement his legacy in cricket history.