Rishabh Pant Eyes Elite Cricket Feat: Set to Join Legends with Century in England

Following his impressive performance at Headingley, Rishabh Pant is on the verge of joining a select group of visiting batsmen as India prepares for the second Test of the series against England at Edgbaston, commencing on July 2.

Rishabh Pant (Getty Image)

The 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, after scoring twin centuries at Headingley, needs just one more century to join a prestigious list that includes legends such as Don Bradman, Rahul Dravid, and Brian Lara.

Pant exhibited an impressive range of strokes in both innings of the first Test at Leeds, smashing 134 and 118. Despite India's five-wicket defeat, Pant's fearless approach and resilience were a standout feature of the match.

He currently has 808 runs in 10 Tests in England at an average of 42.52, including four centuries. His highest score on English soil is 146 off 111 balls, achieved at Edgbaston in 2022. He rescued India from a precarious 98 for 5 and helped them post a first-innings total of 416. Although India lost that match, Pant's innings is considered one of the finest by an Indian wicketkeeper overseas.

If Pant manages to score another century at Edgbaston, he will become only the seventh visiting batter to score centuries in three consecutive Tests in England. The exclusive list includes Don Bradman, Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, and Daryl Mitchell. Rahul Dravid is the only Indian on this list, achieving the 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, now has a significant opportunity to further solidify his place in cricket history.