Rishabh Pant is India's greatest ever wicketkeeper-batter in Tests by far: Sanjay Manjrekar

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made a mockery of the English bowlers on Day 2 of the ongoing Headingley Test. In his fabulous partnership with captain Shubman Gill (147), Pant played the aggressor and took on the attack courtesy of his natural game play. His 134 in the first innings of the first Test became his seventh hundred in the format, the most by any wicketkeeper-batter for India, going past legendary MS Dhoni's tally of six.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar was all praises for Pant following his entertaining knock in Leeds, as he smashed 12 fours and six maximums, helping India post a mammoth 471 in the first innings. According to Manjrekar, Pant is now the greatest ever wicketkeeper-batter in red-ball cricket for India of all-time in a career that has spanned less than seven years.

"By far, India’s greatest ever Test batter-keeper. I was worried when he was in the 90s that he might end up getting his 8th 90 of his career. It is just unbelievable that he has so many 90s! But he’s a breath of fresh air. When he got out and raised his bat, there were a lot of English supporters who stood up and applauded that innings. That’s what we love about England — these guys come to watch good cricket. They obviously want their team to win, but when they see excellence from the opposition, you can see true appreciation for it," he told via JioHotstar.

Truly a box-office innings by Rishabh: Stuart Broad

Veteran England pacer Stuart Broad was also agreeing of Manjrekar and told that the uncanny and unorthodox strokes that the Southpaw plays entertain not just him, but the crowd as well. He added that the reception that the English fans at Headingley gave to Pant was among the loudest he has seen for an opposition player coming for a match there.

“England crowds are always amazing at respecting and appreciating fantastic innings, but that reception which Pant got was one of the loudest I’ve heard for an opposition player scoring a hundred in England. It was really well appreciated, because it was so entertaining. We didn’t know what was coming! There were those falling scoops, full-blooded shots, run-out chances… everything was going on. Everything you want as a Test match fan — patience, leaving, then, a flair shot, putting the bowlers under pressure. The crowd really appreciated everything Rishabh Pant did. Box office – truly a box office innings,” the legendary pacer said.

While India posted 471 in the first innings, England got the opportunity to bat almost a couple of sessions on the second day in Leeds. The English batters started well, with Ben Duckett (62 off 94) and Ollie Pope (100*) providing a solid partnership for the second wicket after Zak Crawley (4 off 6) departed early. After Duckett was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah as was Crawley, star batter Joe Root came in and aimed to provide a steady knock. However, Bumrah's resistance came to India's rescue once again, as Stumps were called with the board reading 209 for 3.

Jasprit Bumrah engages in animated discussion with Gambhir

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Jasprit Bumrah engages in animated discussion with Gambhir