Maverick Pant is the man who has done the country proud by rescuing India from a dire situation with a blistering hundred in the first test against England. In just 89 balls, Pant hit three sixes and a four off the bowling of Jack Leach, making it the fastest century by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman. His heart-stopping dive to finish the innings prompted a full-throated scream from coach Rahul Dravid, who congratulated Pant for his excellent performance.
Rishabh Pant smashed 146 off 111 deliveries to help India rescue themselves from a 98-5 situation against England. Pant and Ravindra Jadeja shared a 222-run stand. Earlier, India were reeling at 98-5 in the second session. Pant and Jadeja combined to stage a counter-attack, smashed 19 boundaries and four sixes, to take India’s score to 338-7. Jadeja is unbeaten on 83.
The match was interrupted by rain. After the rain subsided, Pant and Jadeja played an anchor role and put on an unbeaten stand of 222. England won the toss and chose to bowl. James Anderson, Matthew Potts and Stuart Broad bowled well in the overcast conditions. England reduced India to 98-5 midway through the second session.
The 5th Test between India and England will be played at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The match is expected to be a thriller as both teams will look to win the series. The England captain, Joe Root, meanwhile, heaped praise on Pant, saying that he is the best Test cricket batsman of all time. However, despite the victory, England will have to play another one-off Test against India in 2021.
India won the third ODI by seven runs, but the fourth ODI was lost in the same manner. Pant scored a blistering century, scoring 102 runs in the last innings and Jadeja added 51. Earlier, Pant and Jadeja put on a 222-run stand for the sixth wicket, and despite being dismissed with just eight wickets each, Pant scored a century in the final ODI against England.
England’s innings against India were a thriller. The hosts had made a big difference in the first ODI but India had to fight back for the series after Rohit Sharma’s COVID-19 case was discovered. With a win in the final Test, England are on course to reach the World Cup. There is no doubt that England will win the series, but the defending champions will be left with a win, and the match between India and England is a crucial one.