‘India's greatest ever Test batter-keeper': Sanjay Manjrekar praises Rishabh Pant after century
Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar was full of praises for Rishabh Pant's free-flowing century against England in the second day of the first Test at Leeds on Saturday. Pant scored his 7th Test century and his 3rd on England soil before he was dismissed for 134 with India getting bowled out for 471 runs.
'By far, India's greatest ever Test batter-keeper. I was worried when he was in the 90s that he might end up getting his 8th 90 of his career. It is just unbelievable that he has so many 90s! But he's a breath of fresh air. When he got out and raised his bat, there were a lot of English supporters who stood up and applauded that innings. That's what we love about England — these guys come to watch good cricket. They obviously want their team to win, but when they see excellence from the opposition, you can see true appreciation for it,' Manjrekar said on JioHotstar.
Former England bowler Stuart Broad also branded Pant's innings as box office.
'England crowds are always amazing at respecting and appreciating fantastic innings, but that reception which Pant got was one of the loudest I've heard for an opposition player scoring a hundred in England. It was really well appreciated, because it was so entertaining. We didn't know what was coming! There were those falling scoops, full-blooded shots, run-out chances… everything was going on. Everything you want as a Test match fan — patience, leaving, then, a flair shot, putting the bowlers under pressure. The crowd really appreciated everything Rishabh Pant did. Box office – truly a box office innings,' Broad said.
In the match, Jasprit Bumrah produced a moment of pure magic after Pant unfurled a remarkable hundred, but England showed spunk to reach 107 for one at tea.
Ben Duckett (53) and Ollie Pope (48) were at crease at the break after adding 103 runs for the second wicket as the home side now trail India's first innings total of 471 by 364 runs.
England needed a strong start but Bumrah made it impossible with a zippy first spell under grey skies in which he consumed opener Zak Crawley (4).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Plays aggressive doesn't mean he can't defend': India batting coach backs Rishabh Pant, hails Shubman Gill's growth since BGT
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak (Pic credit: Sahil Malhotra/ in Leeds: India may have ended Day Two of the first Test at Headingley with the upper hand, but England's spirited resistance, led by Ollie Pope's unbeaten hundred, ensured that the contest remained finely poised. Scorecard: India vs England 1st Test Day 2 At stumps, England were 209 for 3 in reply to India's 471, still trailing by 262 runs. While Jasprit Bumrah 's class shone through with figures of 3 for 48 - including the scalps of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root - Pope's gritty, chance-filled knock of 100* off 131 balls held the Indian bowlers at bay. At the close, he found support in Harry Brook, who was unbeaten on nought at the close. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The day, however, belonged equally to the young Indian batting pair of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant , whose efforts earlier set up the strong first innings total. Gill, in his first Test as captain, compiled a career-best 147, while Pant dazzled with a commanding 134. India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, speaking after the day's play, was generous in his praise for both. Poll Who do you think played the most crucial innings for India in their first Test against England? Shubman Gill Rishabh Pant Jasprit Bumrah Other 'After the Australia tour, Shubman Gill worked on certain things. The moment I saw him in the nets, I noticed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo A lot of credit to him for analysing and working on things,' Kotak said. He also addressed the late-order collapse, which saw India lose seven wickets for just 41 runs, admitting, 'It was a collapse. Batters also got out, we expected better but it can't happen.' Yashasvi Jaiswal credits Shubman Gill after maiden Test ton in England: 'I love it' Kotak was also quizzed about Pant's often-debated style of play, particularly given the keeper-batter's mix of caution and aggression in Leeds. 'Rishabh Pant gets criticised by who? Everyone has their own opinion,' Kotak said. 'Rishabh Pant makes his own plans. He decides and he bats. This innings was different. Because he plays aggressive doesn't mean he can't play defensive.' On the dropped catches, Kotak simply said, 'It normally doesn't happen…' Pope, who made the most of his reprieves, found a fan in his teammate Ben Duckett. 'Goosebumps when Ollie Pope got to a hundred! We are very glad for him,' Duckett said after the day's play. Reflecting on his own dismissal, Duckett was full of praise for Bumrah, who knocked him over with a searing delivery. 'Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world. Extremely hard to face when he is coming down the hill with the lights on. We minimised the damage early on.' Duckett added, 'I don't know what's inside Pope's head. But he is strong and scoring a hundred against that attack… the hundred meant a lot to him and the dressing room as well.' With Pope's hundred keeping England in the contest and Bumrah continuing to trouble the batters, the Test is finely balanced heading into Day 3. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Watch: Bumrah Celebrates After Taking Root's Wicket For 10th Time In Test Cricket
Last Updated: Root was caught by Karun Nair in the first slip on the third ball of the 47th over of England's first innings bowled by Bumrah on Saturday. Joe Root was batting on 28 runs from 57 balls when Jasprit Bumrah bowled a super delivery on Saturday (June 21) to get the better of him. The ball kissed the edge of Root's bat and travelled straight to first slip, where Karun Nair was fielding, and he made no mistake to complete the catch. Root was the third English batter to get out on Saturday, and for the 10th time in 25 innings, he was sent back to the pavilion by Bumrah. After taking Root's wicket, Bumrah celebrated in an animated manner, and the video of his pumped-up celebration is now going viral on the internet. Before getting out, Root hammered two fours and added 80 runs for the third wicket with Ollie Pope (100 from 131 balls). Bumrah, who is the world's No. 1 Test bowler, picked up a total of three wickets for India on Saturday and conceded 48 runs in 13 overs. He opened his wicket account by getting Zak Crawley caught out by Karun on the last ball of the first over of England's first innings. Crawley faced six balls and scored four runs. Ben Duckett was the second English batter dismissed by Bumrah on Day 2 of the ongoing Test. Bumrah breached Duckett's defence and shattered his stumps. Before getting bowled out by the 31-year-old fast bowler, Duckett scored 62 runs from 94 balls with the help of nine fours. The wicket of Duckett helped Bumrah break Wasim Akram's record of most Test wickets by an Asian bowler in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. During his playing days, Akram dismissed 146 batters in 32 Tests played in SENA countries. On the other hand, Bumrah now has 148 wickets to his name in 32 Tests played in SENA countries. Bumrah, who made his Test debut for India against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on January 5, 2018, has 40 wickets to his name in 10 Tests played on English soil so far, and he has dismissed 64 batters in 12 Tests played in Australia. Bumrah has played two Tests in New Zealand, in which he has picked up six wickets, and has 38 dismissals to his name in eight Tests played in South Africa.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Jasprit Bumrah's stats vs World No 1 Test batter, Joe Root, are insane
Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of India's bowlers on Saturday, picking all three England wickets in the first innings after the visitors posted a 471-run total. The pacer got rid of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root to reduce the hosts to 209/3 at stumps on Day 2. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Joe Root on Saturday (Action Images via Reuters) Bumrah drew over 35.3% false shots in his 13 overs on Day 2. He finished with figures of 3/25. The 31-year-old continued to create chances for the visitors throughout the first innings, but the team was not able to hold on to them. He eventually overtook Pakistan great Wasim Akram to become the highest Asian wicket-taker in SENA countries. Read More: Yashasvi Jaiswal does what no other batter in the history of cricket could: Tendulkar, Kohli, Viv Richards not close He also holds a formidable record against the World No 1 Test batter - Joe Root. He has dismissed the former English skipper 10 times in 25 innings. Only Pat Cummins has dismissed Root more times (11). Bowlers with Most Dismissals of Joe Root in Tests Pat Cummins: 11 dismissals Jasprit Bumrah: 10 dismissals Josh Hazlewood: 10 dismissals Nathan Lyon: 8 dismissals Mitchell Starc: 8 dismissals Ravindra Jadeja: 8 dismissals Bumrah vs Root: By the Numbers 2018: Root scored 44 runs off 127 balls, dismissed twice, with 99 dots, a strike rate of 34.6, and an average of 22. 2021: Root made 150 runs off 291 balls, out four times, with 212 dots, a strike rate of 51.5, and an average of 37.5. 2022: Root scored 50 runs off 62 balls, undismissed, with 37 dots and a strike rate of 80.6. 2024: Root scored 42 runs off 79 balls, dismissed three times, with 63 dots, a strike rate of 53.2, and an average of 14. 2025: Root scored 4 runs off 11 balls, out once, with 8 dots, a strike rate of 36.4, and an average of 4. Total: Across 570 balls, Root scored 290 runs, was dismissed 10 times, faced 419 dot balls, with a strike rate of 50.9 and an average of 29.
