Watch! Rahul Dravid’s reaction after Rishabh Pant reached his century
India and England got down to do battle one last time as they resumed to finish the series which started way back in 2021. The match has a lot of significance as far as the World Test Championships are concerned. India hold a 2-1 series lead after having the 2nd test at Lords and 4th at Oval. England had pulled one back when they had dominated the Indian team at Leeds and won the game, while the 1st game ended in a draw with rain having spoiled the final day at Nottingham.
Rahul Dravid’s glee at Pant’s century –
Rahul Dravid was making his first trip to England as the coach of the Indian team. This was Dravid’s first test assignment away from India. The start to Dravid’s tenure away from home wasn’t a great one. He saw his team struggle at 98 for 5 while struggling against the swing and seam of England. That’s when an old ward of Dravid, came to the fore. Rishabh Pant swung his bat and swung the game on its head with an 89 ball century. Pant was on 98 when he got a short ball, which he short arm pulled, the fielder and the commentators thought he was going for a single. Pant though burst through for 2 and dived to get his 100. The cameras then panned to Dravid who lofted his arms in the air to celebrate the 100 and gave a loud roar.
Pant and Dravid a special bond –
Rahul Dravid knows Rishabh Pant and what he can do after their long association during their under-19 days. Pant was part of the team under Dravid, which reached the final of the 2016 Under-19 world cup. Pant was with the likes of Ishan Kishan who was the captain, Avesh Khan, Washington Sundar, Sarfaraz Khan and Khaleel Ahmed. Pant was given a free role to play to his strength. The century on Friday at Edgbaston was one for the ages and Rahul Dravid knew what it meant to the team. Pant scored 111 ball 146 which deflated the English bowlers who had come into the game with their tails up. By the time Pant left, the game was firmly in India’s grip and England who had just beaten the Kiwis 3-0 looked bereft of Ideas.