India captain Shubman Gill had words of appreciation for Rishabh Pant after the wicketkeeper-batter smartly ducked a sharp bouncer from Brydon Carse on Day 2 of the first Test against England. Pant started the morning session with intent and edged closer to a well-earned century at Headingley.
Mixing patience with calculated aggression, Pant frustrated the English attack while helping build India’s first-innings total. Starting the day at 65, he quickly went after Carse, hitting his third boundary off the bowler in the first ball of the 94th over. In response, Carse tried to unsettle Pant with a couple of length balls before firing in a quick bouncer.
Pant didn’t go for a risky shot; instead, he calmly ducked under the delivery. Gill, watching from the non-striker’s end, praised the composed decision — a moment captured by the stump mic.
“Kya hi baat hai teri bhai, isse tagdi leave nahi kar sakta tu (You are something else, brother. You cannot leave the ball more solidly),” Gill told the southpaw after the delivery.
Rishabh Pant ended the over with a few dot balls before shifting gears a couple of overs later, attacking the spinner to race into the nineties.
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant stayed vocal during their big stand against England
Since the start of their partnership in the third session on Day 1, the stump mic has frequently picked up exchanges between skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant. Gill has been especially vocal with his running calls to avoid any miscommunication.
Pant, too, was heard alerting Gill about the old ball starting to reverse. He also advised him to keep his drives low and avoid playing them on the rise during the final session. At the latest update, Pant remains unbeaten on 97 from 142 balls.
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