WATCH: KL Rahul reflects his views on batting performance of Rishabh Pant in first ENG vs IND Test match
Team India's versatile cricketer KL Rahul, who has made a strong statement as an opener in the England vs. India 1st Test at Headingley, Leeds, defends the vice-captain of the team, Rishabh Pant. Pant, with his 118-run knock, achieved a rare feat in the second innings.
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Team India's versatile cricketer KL Rahul, who has made a strong statement as an opener in the England vs. India 1st Test at Headingley, Leeds, defends the vice-captain of the team, Rishabh Pant.
Pant, with his 118-run knock, achieved a rare feat in the second innings. He became the only keeper for India to score centuries in both innings of a Test. Despite gaining some exciting numbers in the Whites, Pant's batting style often sparked debate. During his batting in the ongoing contest, the southpaw relentlessly batted with his hallmark approach. Rahul did not see anything wrong with the way Rishabh likes to express himself with the willow.
During the press conference after Day 4, the Karnataka-born cricketer said, "It is hard for us to understand his mindset, but you let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant. There is obviously a method to his madness, as he is averaging 45 in Test cricket. There is a lot of thinking about the outrageous shots he plays. You just try to calm him down as much as possible between balls."
Read More: ENG vs IND Day 5 of 1st Test: Headingley Weather Update
England may have to face a tough day in Leeds
With the help of Rahul's 137 and Pant's 118, team India achieved 364 in the second innings. The score could be higher, but the collapsing lower-middle and lower order halted the momentum. On Day 5, England will have to score 350, and India will look for all 10 wickets to win the first match of the five-match Test series. Unlike Day 1, the surface of Headingley has gotten more and more difficult for batters to rotate. The match ended with an intense approach, Rahul predicted.
"It's a blockbuster finish waiting for tomorrow. At this stage of cricket I'm at, I'm a lot more calm in my head and not chasing numbers. Someone's got to win tomorrow; it'll be an interesting day," the right-handed said in the press conference.
Watch the press conference here
"A method to his batting which nobody understands" 🤯@klrahul lauds @RishabhPant17 unique batting style and speaks about his memorable Test partnerships with #TeamIndia's current vice-captain. 🤝#ENGvIND | 1st Test, Day 5 | TUE, 24th JUNE, 2:30 PM on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/82mbEHbwQy
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 24, 2025
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