IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant Creates Unwanted Record, Becomes First Wicket-Keeper To...

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IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant delivered a batting masterclass in the opening Test of the five-match series against England at Headingley, Leeds, smashing centuries in both innings.

The left-hander scored 134 in the first innings and followed it up with 118 in the second, but his heroics weren't enough to prevent India from sliding to a five-wicket defeat on the final day.

With England chasing a daunting 371-run target in the fourth innings, it was the home side that held their nerve, thanks largely to a commanding 149 from Ben Duckett and an unbeaten 53 by Joe Root. Their efforts took England over the line in 82 overs, leaving India to reflect on what could have been.

Pant, meanwhile, etched his name into the record books-albeit for a reason he'd prefer to forget. He became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test and still end up on the losing side. He also joined an exclusive list of Indian batters who have suffered defeats despite scoring twin centuries in a match. The only others to share this rare feat are Vijay Hazare (Adelaide, 1948), Sunil Gavaskar (Karachi, 1978), and Virat Kohli (Adelaide, 2014).

The match marked Pant's fourth century on English soil, moving him level with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkar. Only Rahul Dravid, with six centuries in England, sits above him.

Known for his flair and resilience in overseas conditions, particularly in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nations, Pant continues to be a standout performer. His previous hundreds in England came at The Oval (2018) and Edgbaston (2022), while he also has notable centuries in Cape Town and Sydney.

Pant's second-innings hundred at Leeds came during a crucial 195-run stand with KL Rahul, a partnership that helped India set a competitive total. Along with Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rahul also reached triple figures in the match-making India the first team in Test history to have five centurions in a single game and still lose.

Despite the record-setting performances, India were unable to maintain their grip on the match in the final innings. With the defeat, England took a 1-0 lead in the series, and Pant's memorable performance was overshadowed by the team's inability to finish strong.