Watch: Rishabh Pant slaps Ben Stokes with bold 4, leaves ENG captain gobsmacked; moments later, wild banter erupts

England National Cricket Team Test captain Ben Stokes burst into laughter after the India National Cricket Team star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant hit him for a stunning four.

Moments later, another wild banter erupted between Ben Stokes and Rishabh Pant, and this time the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman was left in splits.

Also Read: Watch: Ben Stokes bamboozles centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal with stunning delivery in 1st Test

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Rishabh Pant hits Ben Stokes over the head

Pant came out to bat in the middle in the 53rd over after the left-handed opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal fell following his sensational knock on Day 1 of the first Test match at Headingley in Leeds.

Facing just his second ball, Rishabh Pant showcased his ultra-aggression and danced down the track while facing Ben Stokes. On the fifth ball of the 53rd over, Stokes bowled a length ball to Pant, who charged down the pitch and smashed the ball over the bowler's head to get off the mark in style.

This shot left Ben Stokes gobsmacked, and he burst into laughter before walking towards Pant for a friendly chat, but the latter was not much interested.

Meanwhile, another banter happened between Pant and Stokes in the 57th over. On the second ball of the over, Ben Stokes nearly outsmarted Rishabh Pant with a slower low full toss.

The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman was left rattled facing the slower ball, but he somehow managed to adjust the bat swing and defend the ball, and took a single as the ball went towards cover.

Stokes was left devastated after not getting the wicket off that delivery, and Pant was full of smiles. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman also had a friendly chat with Ben Stokes as the duo engaged in fun banter.

Watch: Hilarious banters unfold between Rishabh Pant and Ben Stokes

𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘽𝙃 𝙋𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙄𝙎 𝙄𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙇𝙀! 😎

That's it, that's the caption! 🤣😅

Watch now 👉 https://t.co/PXeXAKeYoj #ENGvIND | 1st Test | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/S16apONf41

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 20, 2025

pic.twitter.com/pydQoE9heo

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) June 20, 2025

Ben Stokes' toss decision slammed by Alastair Cook

Earlier, legendary England National Cricket Team batsman Alastair Cook slammed Stokes’ decision to bowl first in the first Test against India.

“The fact it’s so hot… If you bowl first and don’t bowl them out, you’re bowling all day. England are guaranteed to bowl all day, and probably a bit tomorrow, looking at the conditions, unless India don’t bat as well as they’ve started.

"Therefore, you’re backing up. Say India bat 120 overs. They only have to bowl for two sessions (on day two). You feel like you can control the game more if you bat first,” said Cook to the BBC’s Test Match Special.

Speaking at the toss, Ben Stokes had said that they wanted to use the conditions and get early breakthroughs. He stated:

“We’ll bowl. Headingley is a very good cricket wicket. We’ve had some really good games here. Want to try and use the early conditions. Been a long time coming, bit strange that this is just the second series but we’re ready. It’s been mixed, some lads have played county cricket, we’ve had three days of really good cricket. Usual suspects in the top seven, Woakes, Brydon, Bashir, Tongue and myself make up the bowling.”