India’s performance in the ongoing Headingley Test against England has been nothing short of historic, as Rishabh Pant’s exceptional twin centuries spearheaded an unprecedented batting display. This remarkable effort saw a total of five individual centuries, a feat that has allowed India to equal Australia’s 70-year-old Test record. This is the first time India has achieved five individual centuries in a single Test match, and it makes them only the second team ever to do so in an away Test.
The last time such a collective batting masterclass was witnessed in an away Test was in 1955, during the Kingston Test between Australia and the West Indies. In that match, five Australian batsmen—Colin McDonald (127), Neil Harvey (204), Keith Miller (109), Ron Archer (128) and Richie Benaud (121)—all notched up centuries in the first innings.
For India, the centuries came from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 101 in the first innings, and captain Shubman Gill, who hammered 147. Rishabh Pant was in a league of his own, scoring 134 on Saturday and following it up with 118 in the second innings. Opening batter KL Rahul also contributed significantly, remaining unbeaten on 120 in the second innings.
Pant’s incredible achievement of scoring twin centuries is particularly noteworthy, cementing his place in the record books. He is now the first Indian and only the second wicketkeeper-batter globally to achieve this remarkable feat in a Test match. Before Pant, only Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower had accomplished this, scoring 142 and an unbeaten 199 against South Africa in Harare in 2001. Furthermore, Pant’s second century in the Leeds Test also brings him level with Matt Prior for the most Test centuries by a wicketkeeper-batter in England.
Well played, India!
