Watch: Rishabh Pant shockingly denies Sunil Gavaskar's request for somersault celebration after twin tons in Leeds

India National Cricket Team Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant shockingly rejected the batting legend Sunil Gavaskar's request for a somersault celebration on Monday, June 23.

Rishabh Pant turned down the request of Sunil Gavaskar after hitting back-to-back centuries in the first Test of the five-match series against the England National Cricket Team at Headingley in Leeds.

Also Read: "One of the greatest hundreds" - Twitter reacts as KL Rahul hits stunning ton in Headingley Test

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Rishabh Pant plays historic knocks

Heading into the Test series against the England National Cricket Team, Pant was the most experienced batter in the Indian team after KL Rahul.

There was a burden of seniority as well as vice-captaincy on his shoulders, but he did not let that affect his batting and displayed sensational performances in both innings of the Test series opener against the Three Lions.

Pant mixed his unorthodox style of cricket with a little bit of a cautious approach and smashed a brilliant century in the first innings. He became the third centurion in India's first innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill and finished with a score of 134 runs off 178 balls.

In the second innings, when the star wicketkeeper-batsman arrived in the middle, India were in a bit of trouble as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Shubman Gill had gotten out without scoring big.

Pant batted in brilliant fashion and stitched up a crucial partnership with KL Rahul to drag India out of trouble, putting his team in a dominant position.

He completed his fifty off 83 balls, with 8 fours, and wasn't satisfied with it. Pant then completed his second century of the match off 130 balls to create history.

After hitting twin tons, Rishabh Pant took off his helmet and soaked in the applause before getting a big hug from his partner KL Rahul. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who was in the stands, was delighted to see Pant hit a ton and gestured to him to pull off his trademark somersault celebration.

However, Rishabh Pant did a different celebration and denied Gavaskar's request, gesturing that he would do it next time.

Watch: Rishabh Pant Turns Down Gavaskar’s Somersault Request After Scoring Twin Tons in Leeds

🚨 RISHABH PANT BECOMES FIRST ASIAN WK TO SCORE HUNDRED IN BOTH INNINGS OF A TEST 🚨

- The History Maker, Pant. 🙇pic.twitter.com/9KBpjlyCtX

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 23, 2025

That is an extraordinary achievement - Alastair Cook

Seeing Pant become the second keeper-batter to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match after Andy Flower, Dinesh Karthik hailed him as India's best wicketkeeper-batter.

"That is some achievement. What you're witnessing is history. Pant is India's best wicketkeeper-batter and is becoming an Indian great. He started in a dramatic fashion but he calmed himself down. It's great to see him chase history in such a strong manner," he said on Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, batting legend Sir Alastair Cook, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, said:

"That is an extraordinary achievement. Just remember when Pant came in, the game was in the balance. It's been a brilliant partnership from these two. He is one of the players that you are on the edge of your seat not knowing what he is going to do."