Let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant: KL Rahul

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a century in both innings of a Test match on Monday, June 23, at Headingley, Leeds. He joined Andy Flower as the only wicketkeeper to score twin centuries in the history of Test cricket.

Pant scored a blistering 118 runs off 140 balls on Monday after his 178-ball 134 in the first innings. He did get lucky early in the second innings as he tried a hoick, which saw the ball going up in the air but the Headingley breeze helped it to evade the fielder and drift towards the fine-leg boundary.

KL Rahul, who shared a crucial 195-run partnership with Pant, said that people should get accustomed to the wicketkeeper-batter's unconventional batting approach instead of trying to urge him to play the traditional way. Rahul, who also scored a century (137 off 247 balls), asserted that there is a lot of planning that goes behind Pant's unorthodox shots. During his knock, the Indian vice-captain was seen knocking himself on the helmet after failing to execute a ramp shot. On the stump mic, he could be heard telling himself to play straight down the ground.

"It is hard for us to understand his mindset but you let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant," Rahul was quoted as saying by India Today.

"There is obviously a method to his madness as he is averaging 45 in Test cricket. There is a lot of thinking about the outrageous shots he plays. You just try to calm him down as much as possible between balls," he added.

Rahul and Pant's phenomenal partnership helped India get into a strong position at 287/3. However, the Indian lower middle-order flattered to deceive yet again as the tourists were bowled out for 364. England's openers safely negotiated six overs before stumps on Day 4. The Three Lions need 350 runs to win on the final day, while India need all 10 wickets.