Pant Eyes Landmark Achievement: India Star on Cusp of England Batting Immortality

Rishabh Pant stands on the verge of joining an exclusive club of visiting batsmen as India prepares for the second Test of the series against England at Edgbaston, commencing on July 2nd.

Following his impressive performance at Headingley, where he scored twin centuries, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is just one century away from being included in a legendary list that includes names like Don Bradman, Rahul Dravid, and Brian Lara.

In the first Test at Leeds, Pant showcased his aggressive batting style by smashing 134 and 118 runs in both innings. Despite India's five-wicket defeat after setting a target of 371 for England, Pant's audacious shot-making and resilience were a major highlight of the match.

He currently has 808 runs in 10 Tests in England, with an average of 42.52, including four centuries. His highest score on English soil – 146 off just 111 balls – was achieved at Edgbaston in 2022. During that innings, he rescued India from a precarious 98 for 5 and helped them reach a first-innings total of 416. Although India lost the match, Pant's innings remains one of the finest by an Indian wicketkeeper overseas.

If Pant manages to score another century at Edgbaston, he will become only the seventh visiting batsman to score centuries in three successive Tests in England. The distinguished list includes Don Bradman, Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, and Daryl Mitchell. Dravid is currently the only Indian player on this list, having accomplished this feat in 2002.

Pant, who already holds the record for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper and the most runs by an Asian wicketkeeper in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries, now has a significant opportunity to further solidify his place in cricket history.