August 10, 2026

A Mature Rishabh Pant Will Add Heft To India's Middle Order

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2025-06-22 07:46:26

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Rishabh Pant's amazing journey as a Test batter continued at Leeds and it added tonnes to his growing stature as the best wicket-keeper - batter the country has produced. In curbing his natural attacking instincts at most times during the innings and showing a solid defence, Pant has proved that he has matured into a team player. His innings of 134 assumes gigantic proportions given the fact that India lost the last seven wickets for just 41 runs, to get bowled out for just 471 after being 430 for 3 wickets at one time.

Pant's cartwheel in celebration of his century will remain etched in the minds of the people for a long time. Here was a player who had been in hospital for 45 days in 2022-23 after his road accident displaying such athleticism when at that time his entire cricketing future was in doubt. Pant displayed immense will power and the doctors looking after him immense skill and dedication, and he was back on the practice grounds in eight months, after a period of rehabilitation and recovery at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Although Pant had a disastrous IPL 2025, in the ongoing Test at Leeds, he played some characteristically audacious shots but none of them were irresponsible. He hit six sixes too but his body language in the entire innings was one of a person determined to slog it out and build the innings and a partnership with Shubman Gill. He put a premium on his wicket which is the first sign of a great batter.That augurs well for India as a mature and responsible Pant will add heft to India's middle order.