After playing a match-winning knock in the final ODI against England at the Old Trafford in Manchester, Rishabh Pant claimed yet another achievement as he become the first Asian wicketkeeper batter to score test and ODI centuries in England.
Interestingly, Pant started the tour with a century in a one-off test and completed his tour with century in the final ODI to create a record.
His unbeaten 125* and his 133-run partnership with Hardik Pandya guided India chase down 260 in the decider to secure the series 2-1.
The Rishabh-Pandya Show:
Earlier, England was bowled out for 259 runs in the series decider. Apart from Jos Buttler no other batter reached the half century mark for England. As a result, the hosts won’t able to post a huge score in front of mighty India. Jason Roy, who scored 41, was the second-highest scorer for England in the game.
It was a complete Hardik Pandya day as the all-rounder first demolished England’s batting line-up by picking up important wickets at the right times. He removed Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone and ended his superb spell with 7-24-4.
He later emerged as a warrior with bat too as he steadied India’s ship along with Rishabh Pant and did a 133-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help India reach the target. However, he was caught by Ben Stokes on 71, but he did his part quite well, and after his dismissal, Rishabh Pant took the full control and first smashed his maiden ODI century to become the first Asian wicketkeeper-batter to score centuries in England, and then he walked back to pavilion after guiding India to victory with his unbeaten 125.
Earlier, in the one-off test, which was played from July 1 to 5. Pant posted 111 ball 146 in the first innings to help India post a good total. While in second innings he scored a half-century.
The destructive wicket-keeper batter will next be seen in the 5-match T20Is series against West Indies which will commence on July 29.
