Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant responded to Sunil Gavaskar’s emphatic “superb, superb, superb” praise after his brilliant century on Day 2 of the opening Test against England in Leeds. Speaking with former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, Pant humorously said that his own feeling mirrors Gavaskar’s remark.
The moment carried added significance given Gavaskar’s past criticism of Pant, notably during the 2023 Boxing Day Test against Australia, when he called the batter’s shot selection “stupid, stupid, stupid” after a careless dismissal to Scott Boland. However, with this century, Pant seemed to redeem himself in Gavaskar’s eyes.
Ahead of Day 3, Cheteshwar Pujara posed a light-hearted question to Pant in their conversation:
“Stupid, stupid, stupid se superb, superb, superb aaya tha. Toh kya feeling thi?” (From Stupid, stupid, stupid to superb, superb, superb came. How was the feeling?)
The left-hander replied by saying it felt incredible to overcome his weakness and transform a setback into a strong comeback.
“Feeling toh vahi hai jo aapko bhi hai is samay. Bahut accha lagta hai, jab aap apni khaamiyon pe work karte ho. Jo setback hai usko comeback mein change karte ho. Vahi waala thought process tha. Maine kara hoga aisa but luckily main usko change kar paya vaisa. Hard work karke, focus aur displine rakh ke. Toh woh bahut exciting tha mere liye.”
Pant's reaction to Sunny G's '𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙗, 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙗, 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙗' comment 💬#SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia
[England, India, Rishabh Pant] pic.twitter.com/eJKvsXek5a
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 22, 2025
India Grab Two Vital Wickets on Day 3, Pant Takes Both Catches
Rishabh Pant remained at the center of the action on Day 3, taking two sharp catches as India removed Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes. Prasidh Krishna provided the early breakthrough by dismissing Pope for 106 in just the second over of the day, while Mohammed Siraj sent Stokes back when England appeared to be settling in.
England had resumed their innings on Day 3 at 209/3, after having bowled India out for 471 on the previous day. Pope had earlier forged a solid 122-run stand with Ben Duckett, who scored 62. Jasprit Bumrah was the lone wicket-taker on Day 2, accounting for all three dismissals.
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