Rishabh Pant On The Cusp Of Making History With Another Test Century In England

Rishabh Pant is on the cusp of doing something very special in Test cricket as he is set to play in the second Test match against England at Edgbaston. With another century in the next Test match he would join an elite band of great cricketers who have compiled three consecutive centuries in England Test matches. The band includes Don Bradman Rahul Dravid Brian Lara Warren Bardsley Charles George Macartney and Daryl Mitchell. ". If Pant can score another ton he would be only the seventh overseas batter to achieve this feat and only the second Indian after Rahul Dravid who achieved it twenty three years ago in 2002.

Pant's show in this series has been nothing short of brilliant. In the first Test match played at Leeds he scored two scintillating centuries scoring 134 and 118 in two different innings. His aggressive and attacking approach to play set the match ablaze despite India's eventual five-wicket defeat while attempting to defend a total of 371. These two centuries not only revealed his incredible batting ability but also brought about a rare distinction as he became the first Indian wicketkeeper to have scored two centuries in a single Test match. This feat also took him ahead of previous India captain MS Dhoni in the record books of most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket.

Pant has always loved playing in English conditions and his record is a testimony to it. In 10 Tests and 19 innings at England so far, he has already aggregated 808 runs at a remarkable average of 42.52. He has four centuries and two fifties in England alone and his record score of 146 was when he played at Edgbaston back in July 2022. That innings remains one of the most iconic of his career when he hit 146 runs from 111 balls scoring 19 boundaries and 4 sixes. In that knock he stitched a vital alliance with Ravindra Jadeja which saved India from a precarious total of 98 for 5 and led the team to 416. India could not retain the lead and England chased the target of 378 runs to seal the win.

Pant has already established himself as one of India's most effective batsmen in foreign conditions particularly in England Australia New Zealand and South Africa. He is the record holder of most runs made by an Asian wicket-keeper batter in the SENA nations and his performances remain an important resource for the Indian team. What distinguishes him is the way he takes batting in his stride without any fear. Whether it was dealing with fast bowlers on swinging English pitches or challenging adverse situations his natural talent and aggressive shot-making skill always left the opposition on tenterhooks.

What makes the forthcoming Test at Edgbaston all the more enthralling is the opportunity for Pant to put his name among some of the greats of the game. Rahul Dravid achieved the feat of three centuries in a row during India's 2002 tour to England when he scored 115 at Nottingham 148 at Leeds and 217 at The Oval. The legendary Don Bradman Charles Macartney and Warren Bardsley also made similar contributions in their time showing that this is a rare accomplishment achieved only by the best in the game. New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell did it more recently with 108 at Lord's 190 at Nottingham and 109 at Leeds.

The team that will play for India in the second Test is brimming with young talent and experience. The team is headed by Shubman Gill as captain with Pant as vice captain. They are accompanied by promising batsmen such as Yashasvi Jaiswal KL Rahul Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. The likes of Karun Nair and Nitish Reddy provide further strength to the batting department. All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar provide balance to the team as far as the fast bowling attack is concerned it is full of talent with Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj Shardul Thakur Prasidh Krishna Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh. The spin element is provided by Kuldeep Yadav which can play a vital role based on the pitch.

Conversely England will be a hard team to overcome with their team featuring skipper Ben Stokes and star players such as Joe Root Ollie Pope and Harry Brook. Their pace attack is equally formidable with Jofra Archer Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue likely to test Indian batters seriously. With both teams stacked with talent the second Test is going to be an enthralling contest.

For Pant, the game is more than an opportunity to do well as before. It is an opportunity to become part of an elite group and make history by equalling or bettering the records of some of the all-time greatest players in Test cricket. His current form confidence and previous performances at Edgbaston make it a very real prospect. Fans from around the globe would be eager to see if Pant is up to the task to deliver yet another eye-catching display.

As the second Test begins from July 2 all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant. Can he go on his dream run and make history by turning into one of the very few visiting batsmen to have scored three centuries in three successive Tests in England That is the biggest question and the most thrilling plot going into this match.