How Did Centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant Propel India’s Lead Past 300?

Leeds, June 23 (NationPress) Remarkable centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have positioned India firmly in control during the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test, as they propelled their lead beyond 300 runs on Monday.

At the tea break, India’s lead stood at an impressive 304 runs, with their second innings tally at 298/4 across 75 overs, accumulating 145 runs in the second session, while Rahul and Pant capitalized on the old ball, leaving England struggling for answers.

Rahul maintained his usual composure, remaining unbeaten on 120, marking his ninth Test century with 15 boundaries, while Pant dazzled with a knock of 118 – his eighth century in the format, bolstered by 15 boundaries and three sixes.

Prior to the 195-run partnership between Rahul and Pant at Headingley, the pair had previously achieved centuries together at The Oval in 2018. Pant also set multiple records by becoming the first wicketkeeper and fifth Indian batter to notch two centuries in the same Test match abroad.

He is now only the second wicketkeeper-batter to hit centuries in both innings of a Test, following Andy Flower's feat in 2001. Notably, instead of his signature handspring celebration, Pant opted for a celebration popularized by British footballer Dele Alli. With Rahul and Karun Nair at the crease, India will look to accelerate their scoring and set a daunting target for England, especially with the second new ball due to be introduced in the next session.

The post-tea session commenced with Pant striking three quick boundaries off Josh Tongue, while Rahul accumulated runs off Shoaib Bashir. Pant then skillfully edged past a vacant second slip off Tongue, before reaching his fifty with a pair of runs off the pacer.

Pant continued to dominate, hitting Tongue for another boundary and then back-to-back sixes off Bashir. England called upon Brydon Carse to stop Pant’s scoring, but the wicketkeeper-batter responded with a commanding four.

Rahul remained composed, capitalizing on loose deliveries, and brought up his ninth Test century with a two-run drive through cover off 202 balls, raising his bat and helmet to soak in the crowd's cheers.

Pant continued to find the boundary, taking only 22 balls to reach his century, as he resisted the temptation of outside off-stump deliveries from Bashir and Joe Root. After cutting Bashir through deep point for a single, Pant embraced a more reserved celebration, soaking in the applause from the audience, before hugging Rahul and expressing gratitude.

While Sunil Gavaskar, observing from the media center balcony, requested a handspring celebration, a content Pant simply gestured with 'next time.' Pant then unleashed a flurry of runs against Root, hitting four, six, and four in the following over, before mis-timing a slog-sweep, resulting in a catch to long-on off Bashir. Rahul and Nair then contributed a boundary each to push India's lead beyond 300, just before the tea interval.

Brief Scores: India 471 and 298/4 in 75 overs (KL Rahul 120 not out, Rishabh Pant 118; Brydon Carse 2-62, Ben Stokes 1-40) lead England 465 in 100.4 overs (Ollie Pope 106; Jasprit Bumrah 5-83) by 304 runs.