Could Rishabh Pant Surpass Rahul Dravid in Test Centuries in England?

Leeds, June 24 (NationPress) Following the historic accomplishment of Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match, renowned former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Pant’s remarkable achievements. He suggested that by the conclusion of the five-match series, Pant could potentially outshine former captain and coach Rahul Dravid in terms of the most Test centuries by Indians on English soil.

After producing an exceptional 134 in the first innings, Pant maintained his stellar performance, registering his eighth Test century with 118 off 140 during Day 4 of the ongoing first Test against England at Headingley.

Moreover, Pant has now become the seventh Indian player to achieve centuries in both innings of a Test match, joining the ranks of legends like Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar (three times), Rahul Dravid (twice), Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma.

Additionally, the 27-year-old cricketer has entered an elite group of visiting batters, including Don Bradman, Hansie Cronje, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara, and Daryl Mitchell, who have recorded five consecutive scores above fifty in England. The record is currently led by Australian star Steven Smith with seven.

"When you consider all of Rishabh Pant's accomplishments, the immediate thought is to view him solely as a batter - and that's quite reasonable. When discussing batting performances in England, those he’s being compared to are legends like Dilip Vengsarkar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sunil Gavaskar.

"However, here’s the astonishing fact - he’s also a wicketkeeper. That’s what makes it almost unbelievable. While Kumar Sangakkara had an outstanding batting record, he wasn’t quite the keeper that Rishabh Pant is," Manjrekar remarked on JioHotstar.

With his two centuries in Headingley, Pant's total of Test tons in England has now reached four, just two behind Dravid. Manjrekar believes that with four Tests remaining in the series, Pant could either equal or surpass the former captain to claim the title of the Indian batter with the most Test hundreds in England.

"Pant is India’s primary wicketkeeper in this Test side, which speaks volumes. If you analyze the statistics - the most hundreds by Indians in Tests in England - Rahul Dravid holds the record with six. Suddenly, Pant’s name is in that prestigious category. And there’s an intriguing twist - there are two Rahuls in this narrative.

"You have KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Who’s to say that by the end of this series, Pant won’t equal or even surpass Rahul Dravid? With four Tests left, that’s potentially eight innings for Pant. And he’s already begun in nearly flawless style," he added.

Pant, who was later dismissed for 118 off 140 balls in the second innings, partnered with KL Rahul, who also showcased his batting prowess in the first innings, contributing significantly to India’s position with his ninth Test century. Together, they forged a partnership of 195 runs for the fourth wicket, marking India’s highest-ever fourth-wicket partnership during their second innings of a Test match in England. Eventually, India was bowled out for 364 in their second innings, setting a challenging target of 371 for England.

Commenting on Rahul’s contribution and technique, Manjrekar stated, "The only criticism of KL Rahul is consistency - a crucial measure of greatness. However, in terms of batting mechanics, he’s nearly impeccable. Whether in Australia, South Africa, England, or New Zealand, his technique shows no visible weakness.

"That’s why he’s the ‘Senapati’ (general) of Indian cricket in SENA countries - with five Test hundreds, second only to Sunil Gavaskar among Asian openers. It’s a remarkable achievement, although he’d be the first to acknowledge he seeks more runs, more frequently," he concluded.