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Rishabh Pant has always been a cricketer who brings flair to the big stage, but at Headingley on June 23, 2025, he delivered a performance for the ages. India’s vice-captain etched his name into the history books by scoring centuries in both innings of the Test against England, joining an elite club that includes only Andy Flower among wicketkeepers.
Sunil Gavaskar’s playful demand from Rishabh Pant after the second century at Headingley
While fans and teammates celebrated Pant’s record-breaking feat, legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar had a playful request from the commentary box: he wanted Pant to reprise his now-iconic somersault celebration.
As Pant raised his bat after a masterful 130-ball hundred in the second innings, Headingley erupted in applause. But amidst the ovation, Gavaskar’s animated gestures from the commentary box stole the spotlight. The India legend, ever the cricket romantic, signaled for Pant to perform the front flip celebration he had showcased after his first-innings century. The somersault, which has become a signature move for Pant, symbolizes his exuberant style and fearless approach to the game.
Pant, however, decided to keep fans guessing. Instead of the flip, he responded with the cheeky “finger-eye” celebration, a nod to footballer Dele Alli, suggesting that he was saving his acrobatics for another occasion. Gavaskar’s light-hearted demand and Pant’s playful response underscored the camaraderie and mutual admiration that defines Indian cricket’s present and past. It was a moment that delighted fans and showcased the lighter side of high-pressure Test cricket.
Here’s the video:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭-𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡! 🙌🏻
Take a bow, @RishabhPant17, brilliant would be an understatement! 🫡🔥#ENGvIND 1st Test Day 4 LIVE NOW Streaming on JioHotstar 👉… pic.twitter.com/4A1Poe5jbC
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 23, 2025
Pant’s twin centuries and India’s dominating lead over England on Day 4
Pant’s twin centuries were not just personal milestones—they were pivotal in swinging the match decisively in India’s favour. His first-innings 134 was followed by a fluent 118 in the second, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper to notch eight Test hundreds and only the second in history to score centuries in both innings of a Test. His aggressive strokeplay, combined with composure under pressure, blunted England’s attack and shifted the momentum firmly towards India.
KL Rahul, too, played a crucial role, crafting a stylish century of his own and sharing a 195-run partnership with Pant that put India in a dominant position before getting out on Shoaib Bashir. By the end of the second session on Day 4, India had stretched their lead to 304 runs, with Rahul unbeaten on 120. The Headingley pitch, which had offered early movement, flattened out as the day progressed, allowing India’s batters to pile on the runs. With the highest successful chase at this ground being 404, India’s imposing lead left England with a mountain to climb as the Test entered its final phase.
Also READ: Fans go gaga as KL Rahul smashes a sensational century on Day 4 of the ENG vs IND Headingley Test
