ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant Is Brian Lara Of Wicketkeepers - Rashid Latif

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif called Rishabh Pant ‘Brain Lara of wicketkeepers’ after the latter scored a sparkling hundred against England on the first day of the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Pant scored 146 in 111 deliveries, with the help of 20 boundaries and four sixes, to bail the visitors out from slumping in the first innings. He was involved in a crucial stand of 222 runs with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (104) for the sixth wicket.

Pant scored his fifth Test hundred in just 89 balls registering the fastest Test hundred by an Indian keeper, breaking the record of MS Dhoni, who scored his century in 93 balls against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 2006.

Rishabh Pant has shown glimpses of Brian Lara today: Rashid Latif

Pant completed 2000 Test runs en route to his scintillating ton against England, his third against them and second in their country. Pant has played numerous match-winning knocks with the most memorable one being the 89* at the Gabba against Australia.

“He’s the Brian Lara of wicketkeepers. This match is taking place in Birmingham, the same place where Brian Lara scored 501 for Warwickshire. Pant has shown glimpses of that today. Pant has limited foot movement, but he can pick the ball really well,” Latif said on the YouTube channel ‘Caught Behind’.

Ravindra Jadeja let the ball come to him: Rashid Latif

Pant has now scored his third century against England in the red-ball format with the other two being against South Africa and Australia. Four of Pant’s Test hundreds have been scored in England (Oval and Edgbaston), Australia (SCG) and South Africa (Newlands).

Latif noted that Jadeja, who scored 104 on the second day, was very calculative during his innings and played his shots with perfect timing.

“He let the ball come to him. The 2-3 shots that he played towards midwicket against fast bowlers were outstanding. He played calculative cricket. England tried to put pressure on with four slips and a gully, which meant there weren’t enough fielders outside. So, he took his chances,” said Latif.

India posted 416 on the back of some late plundering from stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah (31 not out). Bumrah picked three wickets as England were reduced to 84 for five wickets down at the close of the second day.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja Achieve Major Milestone With 222-run Partnership In 5th Test vs England