Pant Poised to Join Elite Century-Makers in England as India Battles England at Edgbaston

Rishabh Pant stands on the verge of joining a distinguished group of international batsmen as India prepares to face England in the second Test at Edgbaston, commencing on July 2nd.

Rishabh Pant (Getty Image)

Following his remarkable centuries at Headingley, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is just one century away from inclusion in a celebrated list that features cricket legends such as Don Bradman, Rahul Dravid, and Brian Lara.

In the first Test at Leeds, Pant delivered a spectacular performance, smashing 134 and 118 runs, displaying a wide range of impressive strokes in both innings. Despite India's five-wicket defeat after setting a target of 371 for England, Pant's daring shots and resilience stood out as a key highlight of the match.

Currently, he has amassed 808 runs in 10 Tests in England, with an average of 42.52, including four centuries. His highest score on English soil – a striking 146 off just 111 balls – was achieved at Edgbaston in 2022. This innings saw him rescue India from a precarious 98 for 5, ultimately helping the team reach a first-innings total of 416. Although India lost that match, Pant's innings remains one of the finest ever played by an Indian wicketkeeper on foreign soil.

If Pant manages to score another century at Edgbaston, he will become only the seventh visiting batsman to achieve centuries in three consecutive Tests in England. This exclusive list includes Don Bradman, Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, and Daryl Mitchell. Dravid remains the sole Indian player on this list, having accomplished this feat in 2002.

Pant, who already holds the record 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 significant opportunity to further solidify his legacy in cricket history.