On the eve of the third Test of the five-match series against England at Lord’s, India’s vice-captain, Rishabh Pant, delivered major updates on their planning. The series is currently poised at 1-1 after the visitors' incredible victory at Edgbaston, thanks to captain Shubman Gill’s 269 and 161 across two innings before Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj broke the home side’s back.

Pant revealed that the management is yet to decide India’s playing XI for the game ‘because the nature of the wicket keeps changing’ for which they will plan the combination accordingly. The southpaw also revealed that on flat wickets, ‘the batters will have to step up’ besides the knowledge of picking 20 wickets. ‘Everything’ was his answer when asked about what makes Jasprit Bumrah special.

SEE ALSO: ENG vs IND 2025: England announce their playing XI for Lord's Test, Surprising changes

The Dukes balls are getting old quite rapidly, and the southpaw feels that the ‘gauge is smaller for the Dukes’ but they are happy to accept the rule. He added that ‘balls getting out of shape is a problem and not good for cricket.’ Besides having positive conversations with Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir, Pant is happy to see Jofra Archer back in the red-ball format.

Rishabh Pant gives a major update on the Lord’s surface

Undoubtedly, everyone is a fan of Pant’s stump mic conversations. He disclosed the secret that he had been going it since childhood, while his ‘coach advised to keep talking’ which he feels is quite important. Gill and Pant share a great bond even off the field, as the Delhi batter reckoned that ‘when two people trust each other, then things get better.’

Speaking on his responsibility for the team, Pant feels that it helps to level the game up, while he is satisfied to see Siraj and Akash Deep dismiss the batters by setting them up. In Edgbaston, the Bengal pacer went wide of the crease and targeted Joe Root’s stumps to get rid of the batter late on the fourth evening. It opened up the game for the victory.

The Dehradun-born is the third leading run-getter of the series so far with 342 runs in four innings at an average of 85.50 and a strike rate of 81.82. He felt that the Birmingham victory had given them the vital momentum. The biggest update from him came on the Lord’s surface, where he ruled out the ‘opposition’s plan’ and vowed to give their best.’

Harry Brook Becomes World Number 1 in Test Batting Rankings

England’s middle-order batter Harry Brook has taken the top spot in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings. He scored a strong 158 runs in the first innings of the second Test against India in Birmingham. This helped him reach 886 rating points, moving 18 points ahead of Joe Root. Brook replaces Root, who had been at the top for six months. Brook was also ranked number one for a week last December.

Shubman Gill Reaches Career-Best 6th Place

The Birmingham Test was really special for India captain Shubman Gill. He became only the second player ever to score more than 150 in both innings of a Test. He made 269 and 161, with a total of 430 runs, which is the second-highest ever in Test history. This performance moved him up 15 places in the rankings to 6th place with 807 rating points. Before this, his best ranking was 14th last year.

Yashasvi Jaiswal Ranked 4th in the World

India’s opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has also climbed high in the rankings. He is now ranked 4th in the world with 858 rating points. His consistent and attacking batting, especially in the Edgbaston Test against England, has helped him achieve this career-best spot.

Rishabh Pant Ranked Joint 7th in the World

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is now at joint 7th place in the ICC rankings, sharing the spot with South Africa’s Temba Bavuma. Both have 790 rating points. Pant’s strong innings, especially against England at Headingley, where he reached 801 rating points, have kept him among the world’s top Test batters. 

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Top 10 Test Batter Rankings

The Round of 16 clash between Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon 2025 was nothing short of a spectacle, drawing a host of celebrities from film and sports to the prestigious Centre Court. The match saw a surprising start as Djokovic dropped the opening set 1-6, sending shockwaves through the crowd. However, the Serbian maestro quickly found his rhythm and staged a brilliant comeback. Displaying his trademark composure and skill, Djokovic clinched the next three sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a tightly contested battle that lasted over three hours.

This hard-fought victory marked Djokovic's 101st career win at Wimbledon, underscoring his legendary status at the All England Club. More importantly, the win propelled him into the quarterfinals, putting him just three matches away from a historic 25th Grand Slam title. With each passing round, Djokovic continues to etch his name deeper into tennis history, and the packed stadium of fans and stars alike were witness to yet another chapter of his remarkable journey. The match served as a reminder of Djokovic’s ability to absorb pressure and turn games around even when faced with early setbacks.

Virat Kohli 

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, made a high-profile appearance at Wimbledon 2025 on Monday to watch Novak Djokovic’s Round of 16 match against Alex de Minaur. From the Centre Court stands, Kohli witnessed Djokovic bounce back from a set down to win in four sets. After the match, Kohli took to Instagram, calling it "business as usual for the gladiator." Djokovic reshared the story with gratitude, writing, "Thank you for supporting," acknowledging Kohli’s appreciation.

Following the match, Kohli expressed his support for Djokovic to lift the Wimbledon title and shared his wish for a Djokovic-Alcaraz final. He also hailed the Serbian as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Djokovic, in turn, praised Kohli and revealed that the two have exchanged messages in the past. The tennis star mentioned his interest in improving his cricket skills before possibly visiting India, showing mutual admiration between two global sporting icons.

10-years since his last #Wimbledon outing, #ViratKohli shares his thoughts on coming back to enjoy the action on Centre Court! 🎾#Wimbledon2025 👉 Watch all the action LIVE on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/dEUFVamMlH

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 8, 2025

Joe Root

During the same Wimbledon fixture, England cricket star Joe Root was spotted at Centre Court, where he had a memorable meeting with tennis legend Roger Federer. Root, who is currently involved in the ongoing five-match Test series against India, attended the prestigious Grand Slam event alongside his wife, Carrie. The couple was seated in the Royal Box, enjoying the high-stakes tennis action.

Root and Carrie were seen posing for photos in the Royal Box ahead of the men’s Singles fourth-round clash between Alex De Minaur and Novak Djokovic. A viral photo captured the moment Root warmly greeted eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer with a handshake, sparking excitement among fans. The cricketer’s presence added to the star-studded atmosphere, highlighting the crossover between elite athletes across different sports.

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Brendon McCullum reveals pitch preferences ahead of 3rd Test at Lord’s

Rishabh Pant

India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant turned heads with his stylish appearance at Wimbledon 2025, arriving in a sleek black striped suit and tie. His visit came just a day after playing a key role in India’s historic Test win at Edgbaston. Pant, currently the vice-captain in the ongoing five-match series against England, made the most of his break between matches.

Pant enjoyed the world-class tennis action from Centre Court, taking in the atmosphere of the All England Club. Wimbledon’s official Instagram page even gave him a warm welcome, posting, “Welcome to #Wimbledon, @rishabpant.” With his stellar form on the cricket field and his charm off it, Pant continues to capture the spotlight both on and off the pitch.

James Anderson

Legendary English pacer James Anderson graced Wimbledon 2025 with a dapper appearance, joining Joe Root in the prestigious Royal Box. The recently retired fast bowler looked sharp in a suit as he attended the high-profile tennis event at Centre Court, drawing plenty of attention from fans and media alike.

Anderson shared a warm handshake with tennis icon Roger Federer, adding to the star-studded atmosphere of the day. Alongside fellow cricketer Root and other elite guests, the former pace spearhead enjoyed the thrilling action on court, marking a delightful crossover moment between cricket and tennis royalty.

Brain Lara

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara was spotted at Wimbledon 2025, joining several cricketing greats in the prestigious Royal Box. The former cricketer appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the tennis action on Centre Court, drawing attention from fans and cameras alike.

Images shared by Wimbledon’s official social media showed Lara warmly waving and acknowledging the crowd. His presence added to the star-studded lineup of guests, blending the worlds of cricket and tennis in a truly grand setting.

Although Rishabh Pant is well-known for his aggressive leadership and dazzling batting, his teammate Ayush Badoni of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) believes that there is a more gentle and inspiring side to the star cricketer that no one ever sees.

In a recent conversation, Badoni shared how Pant has not only become a leader, but also a brother figure in the LSG dressing room. "He treats everyone as an elder or younger brother," Badoni said. "To me, he's an elder brother. I've learned a lot from him, particularly his aggressive style of batting. I am a fan of him."

Pant, signed up by LSG for a record ₹27 crore before IPL 2025 and appointed captain, returned to big-time cricket this season after a long spell of injury. His return was one of the tournaments' biggest narratives, and it wasn't only his batting performances that attracted applause it was also how he united the team.

Watch the video:

VIDEO | DPL 2025: South Delhi Superstarz captain Ayush Badoni says, "We all know how fearless Rishabh Pant is. He treats everyone like an elder or younger brother. To me, he’s like an elder brother. I’ve learned a lot from him, especially his fearless approach to batting."

(Full… pic.twitter.com/oAHtSrmbOt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 6, 2025

ALSO SEE: India Creates History: First Test Win at Edgbaston Under Shubman Gill’s Captaincy

Pant's Leadership Beyond the Bat: Ayush Badoni Elaborates on the Brotherhood Behind LSG's 2025 Campaign

"He's always motivating the young guys," added Badoni. "Whether you're playing well or not, he has a way to keep your morale high. He'll come and joke with you or advise you in a manner that will make you feel confident.

During the IPL 2025 season, Pant set an example by hitting a century against RCB and taking LSG through some hard-fought matches, although the team just failed to make playoffs. For individuals such as Badoni, playing under Pant's leadership was not about cricketing strategies alone, but also acquiring the skill of coping with pressure calmly and with courage.

In a star-studded league, what sets Rishabh Pant apart is not only his big-hitting but also his human touch when interacting with teammates. To put it best in the words of Ayush Badoni, he behaves with everyone like a brother, and this brotherhood binds the team together, on and off the field.

A fun and hilarious interaction between Rishabh Pant and Harry Brook from the second Test at Edgbaston has gone viral online, providing a refreshing break from the on-field intensity. With the game in a decisive state with India having taken complete control, the harmless banter made fans smile as it provided yet another moment that demonstrated the fun and spirit cricket and sportsmanship provide during the crucible of competition.

Brook was attempting to transcend the some of the required seriousness of playing Test cricket by making small talk in his own friendly and sincere way to Pant during a short break in play. With India in the driver's seat, Brook's friendly jest was only light-hearted and appeared to cheer up the situation in which Test cricket was being conducted on the field, entertaining with Brook's solidly endearing personality. Pant, who is known as the life of the show and loving to enjoy the energy he brings to the game too, engaged back with Brook by sharing his humour and recognising him, to seal their clip as memorable. The brief exchange became viral and serves to reiterate the importance of sportsmanship and light moments across the world of sports in a competitive setting.

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Harry Brook: “What’s your fastest 100?” Pant smiled and replied, “Test cricket? 80–90 minutes.”

Brook followed up with, “The fastest I have done is 55 balls. You could have done that today.” Pant, keeping things calm and classy, responded, “It’s okay, not very greedy for records. If it happens, it happens.”

Watch the video: 

Records? #RishabhPant’s reply will win your respect. 🙌#HarryBrook asked about the fastest hundred and Pant’s response was pure humility. 💯✨#ENGvIND 👉 2nd TEST, Day 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/2wT1UwEcdi pic.twitter.com/MEx6HVDUJH

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 5, 2025

Shubman Gill becomes second Indian to score century in both innings

India’s young Test captain, Shubman Gill, etched his name in the history books by becoming only the second Indian and ninth overall to score both a double century and a century in the same Test match. The milestone came during the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Gill, 25, began with a career-best 269 in the first innings and followed it up with a fluent century in the second. His combined total of 369 runs in the match surpassed Sunil Gavaskar’s 344-run mark from 1971, setting a new benchmark for Indian batters in a single Test.

This historic performance also makes Gill the second visiting captain to achieve this rare feat in England, after Graham Gooch’s famous effort in 1990. In his debut series as captain, Gill already has three centuries from four innings, showcasing leadership with both bat and mindset. During Day 4, he stitched vital partnerships—110 runs with Rishabh Pant and 68 with Ravindra Jadeja—helping India extend their lead beyond 480. His second-innings century came off 129 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes. With consistency and composure, Gill has now joined the elite company of Indian legends like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who excelled in away Tests.

Rishabh Pant lost his bat and the wicket at the same time. A truly entertaining innings came to an end at Edgbaston. The vice captain of India went back to the pavilion with huge applause from the crowd. 

In a flat Edgbaston surface, Pant pushed the paddles to the maximum straightaway. Relying on his natural game, he continued to bat like it was a limited overs game. When discussions were about England's aggressive batting, known as the Bazball, India had their own weapon to destroy the opposition bowlers.

Maintaining over a 110 strike rate, Rishabh scored 65 off 58 deliveries. During this time, the bat slipped from his grip twice. On one occasion it was a dot ball; in the next, he lost his wicket. India was leading comfortably against India, and it was Day 4, so the visiting side has a fair amount of chances to achieve a heroic win in the fortress of England. 

Read More: ENG vs IND 2025: Is this end of Karun Nair's international career?

The crowd in Edgbaston thoroughly enjoyed the show

The loan full-time spinner of England's playing XI, Shoaib Bashir, took the wicket of the swashbuckling southpaw. Pant came down to the ground with the hope to clear the ropes for the fourth time, but the connection between the bat and the ball was not on point. He lost his grip, the bat went high in the air, and the ball went high in the air; the bat landed in a no man's land, but the ball safely landed into the grip of Ben Duckett in the long-on region. 

During his quick-paced 65-run innings, he hit eight 4s and three 6s to boost up the run rate. The keeper-batter in the first match of the series in Leeds scored a hundred in both innings—a 134-run inning followed by a 118-run knock. In the ongoing contest, he scored 65 after a 25-run innings in the first essay. 

Watch the dismissal here

Rishabh Pant lost his bat and his wicket in the same delivery. pic.twitter.com/XKwhDxaq3M

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 5, 2025

Rishabh Pant is back doing what he does best entertaining from behind the stumps. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter was once again at the heart of a viral moment on Day 3 of the second Test against England at Edgbaston, thanks to his witty one-liner aimed at teammate Mohammed Siraj.

The incident occurred during the 90th over of England’s innings when Siraj bowled a fiery short-pitched delivery that struck tailender Shoaib Bashir on the helmet. The delivery, Bashir’s very first ball faced in the innings, prompted an immediate apology from Siraj. But Pant, never one to miss an opportunity for humour, quipped loudly on the stump mic: “Pehle maar raha hai, phir bol raha hai.” (“First you’re hitting him, then you’re apologizing.”)

The moment had fans and commentators in splits, with the clip quickly going viral on social media after being shared by Star Sports. Pant’s light-hearted remark not only showcased his natural sense of humor but also added to the spirit of the game, even during a tense Test match battle.

Watch the video: 

No matter the situation, 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙝-𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞 ko kaun roke! 😄

Watch #RishabhPant’s epic stump mic moment after #MohammedSiraj’s blow to #ShoaibBashir! 😅😂#ENGvIND 👉 2nd Test, Day 4 | SAT, 5th JULY, 2:30 PM | Streaming on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/7Chi8iRcTn

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 5, 2025

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Siraj’s Six-Fer Shines, Pant’s Stump Mic Banter Steals the Show

Meanwhile, Siraj had more than one reason to celebrate. The Hyderabad pacer produced one of his finest spells in red-ball cricket, finishing with 6 wickets, his first-ever five-wicket haul on English soil. Speaking after the play, Siraj shared his joy with JioCinema: “It’s unbelievable because I’ve been waiting for a year to get a five-wicket haul. I was always stuck at four. This moment is very special to me. And in England, I didn’t get a fifer before so these six wickets are very special.”

Despite losing Yashasvi Jaiswal late in the day, India ended with a commanding 244-run lead heading into Day 4. With a strong position in hand, Rohit Sharma’s side will aim to pile on the pressure and set England a daunting target, potentially pushing past the 400-run mark. As for Pant, his return to Test cricket has been marked not just by his performances with the bat and gloves, but also by the unmistakable voice that keeps the mood light stump mic gold and all.

A hilarious moment came to light when the viewers got a glimpse of some of the current members of the Indian cricket team in Kapil Sharma's show. Rishab Pant, Abhishek Sharma, and Yuzvendra Chahal were all present along with the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir. In a funny exchange, the comedian Kapil Sharma asked Pant to name one player from the dressing room who shares orders in an authoritarian manner. 

While responding to his query, the Indian Test vice-captain uttered the name of former Indian captain Rohit Sharma in a rather supressing tone. His cheeky response made everyone in the studio burst into laughter, including former cricketer turned commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu. Abhishek and Chahal were seated next to him, and even they could not hold on to their emotions. 

While concluding his sentence, Pant further added, "Rohit bha zara khul ke ajate hai", meaning Rohit bhai comes across with a bit of swag in him. His response attracted a very witty reaction from the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir. On a hilarious note, Gambhir advised Pant not to shy away from mentioning the former Indian captain's name, as he has already retired. The entire studio was all smiles as the conversation unfolded. 

Gautam Gambhir: "Rohit ka name le le ab to retire ho gaya hai..." 

See also: Pant rises to No. 6 in ICC Test Rankings, Bumrah holds firm at the top

Watch the video:

Look how happily this guy is saying "ab toh retire hogya" , and you want me to believe he isn't behind it pic.twitter.com/jO5JlDZKdO

— Dev 🇮🇳 (@time__square) July 5, 2025

Rohit played his last Test match in the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 tour, where he endured a disappointing series, averaging less than 10. The 38-year-old has now retired from both the Test and the T20I arena. He will continue to feature for India in ODIs and is expected to play a pivotal role in India's buildup to the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa.

Meanwhile, Pant finds himself in the UK where India are embroiled in a closely-contested Anderson-Tendulkar Test series. Pant starred with the bat in the first Test by becoming the first Indian wicket-keeper batter to score Test centuries in both innings. Unfortunately, India went on to taste defeat in that Test match, but are now in with a solid chance of leveling the series as they lead by a monumental 244 runs at Edgbaston.

Rishabh Pant has climbed to sixth in the latest ICC Test Batting Rankings after his twin centuries in the Headingley Test against England. The dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter struck 134 and 118 in a memorable performance, becoming only the second gloveman to score two centuries in a single Test. His career-best rating of 801 points now places him just one spot behind his all-time high of No. 5, achieved in 2022.

Pant is now only 88 points shy of the top-ranked Joe Root, who retained his No. 1 position after scoring 28 and 53* in England’s record chase of 371. Root’s teammate Harry Brook remains second, followed by Kane Williamson in third.

Yashasvi Jaiswal held firm at No. 4, continuing as India’s highest-ranked batter, while Shubman Gill slipped to 21st. England’s Ben Duckett surged to a career-best No. 8 following his unbeaten 149, while Australia’s Travis Head re-entered the top 10.

ICC Test Batting Rankings (Top 10)

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In the bowling charts, Jasprit Bumrah continued his reign at No. 1 after claiming five wickets in the Headingley Test. With 907 points, he remains ahead of Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins. Josh Hazlewood moved to No. 4 following his 5 for 43 in Barbados.

ICC Test Bowling Rankings (Top 5)

Among all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja retained the No. 1 ranking despite a quiet outing. He leads Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Marco Jansen in the list. As the Test season progresses, India will hope Pant’s form and Bumrah’s dominance continue to drive their success on the global stage.

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be one of the biggest names at the Delhi Premier League (DPL) Season 2 auction, set to take place on July 6 and 7 in New Delhi. The auction will feature over 10 well-known IPL players, including Ishant Sharma, Ayush Badoni, Harshit Rana, and Anuj Rawat.

Pant will face strong competition from young stars like Priyansh Arya and Digvesh Rathi, both of whom first impressed during DPL Season 1 and later went on to shine in the IPL.

Two New Teams Join the League

The DPL is also growing this year, with the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) announcing two new men’s franchises. The Outer Delhi team was picked up for ₹10.6 crore by Savita Paints Private Limited, while the New Delhi team was bought for ₹9.2 crore by a joint bid from Bheema Tolling and Crayon Advertising.

With these additions, the number of men’s teams in the league has increased from six to eight. The new teams will join existing sides:

• Central Delhi Kings
• East Delhi Riders
• North Delhi Strikers
• Purani Dilli 6
• South Delhi Superstarz
• West Delhi Lions

Auction Dates and Key Players

• Men’s auction: July 6
• Women’s auction: July 7

ALSO SEE: PSL holds key debriefing sessions as league maps out its future

Apart from Pant, several IPL and domestic stars are set to go under the hammer: Ishant Sharma, Ayush Badoni, Harshit Rana, Anuj Rawat, Simarjeet Singh, Himmat Singh, Suyash Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Yash Dhull, Nitish Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Prince Yadav, and more.

DDCA President Rohan Jaitley said, “The Delhi Premier League is more than just a tournament, it’s a celebration of Delhi’s cricketing culture. With the new teams and returning stars, Season 2 promises to be even bigger.”

Women’s Cricket Takes Centre Stage in DPL Season 2

DDCA has also kept a strong focus on women’s cricket. Vice-President Shikha Kumar said the women’s league is growing and will continue to get equal attention and support. “We want girls across Delhi to see cricket as their game played on equal terms and celebrated just as loudly,” she said.

All matches of Season 2 will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The full match schedule will be announced after the player auctions. With top players, two new teams, and strong backing for women’s cricket, DPL Season 2 is shaping up to be a special one for fans and players alike.