Another ton, more records for wizard Pant at Leeds

Rishabh Pant celebrates his century, his 2nd of the match, on Day 4 of the 1st Test at Headingley in Leeds on Monday

IMAGE: Rishabh Pant celebrates his century, his 2nd of the match, on Day 4 of the 1st Test at Headingley in Leeds on Monday. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images via Reuters

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian to score twin centuries in a Test in England on day four of the opening Test at Headingley on Monday.

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Pant cut spinner Shoaib Bashir past point for a single to complete his 8th Test century from 130 balls.

This is the 27-year-old's fourth Test ton in the country, having registered his first in his debut series back in 2018.

Pant is now only the second wicket-keeper in Test history to score centuries in both innings of a Test. Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower, was the first gloveman to reach the milestone when he did so against South Africa in Harare, in 2001, scoring 142 and 199.

Pant now has the joint-most Test hundreds as a wicket-keeper batter in England alongside Matt Prior and Alec Stewart (4).

Notching 118 runs off 140 deliveries, Pant's innings was studded with 15 fours and three maximums during his outing.

Pant’s three sixes to go with the six he had connected in the first innings make up for the joint-most by any batter during a Test match in England alongside Ben Stokes and Andrew Flintoff.

Rishabh Pant is now only the 2nd wicket-keeper to score a century in both innings of a Test

IMAGE: Rishabh Pant is now only the 2nd wicket-keeper to score a century in both innings of a Test. Photograph: BCCI/X

Pant is now the seventh Indian to score centuries in both innings of a Test. Sunil Gavaskar achieved this feat thrice, Rahul Dravid twice, and Vijay Hazare, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane have done this once in their career.

Pant also matched Rahane, who was the last vice-captain to smash a century in each innings, doing so against South Africa in New Delhi, in 2015.

Also, in just the first two matches of WTC 2025-27 cycle Pant is the 2nd batter to score 100s in both innings of the match -- Bangladesh captain Najmal Shanto hit 148 & 125 not out against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle last week and Pant has 134 & 118 against England in Leeds.

India were eventually dismissed for 365 in the second innings, setting a total of 371 for England to chase.

KL Rahul said at the press conference at the end of Day 4 that he was in awe of Pant's batting and was just admiring his audacious strokeplay standing at the other end.

"You just stand there and admire and sometimes scratch your head about the shots that he plays. He has his unique style of play. He enjoys his game. He has a style that none of us will understand in this room. Just let him be Rishabh Pant," said Rahul of Pant.