(Video) Sunil Gavaskar, Who Called Rishabh Pant’s Shot Selection “Stupid”, Tells Him to Do His Iconic Somersault Celebration After Twin Hundreds

Sunil Gavaskar was seen urging Rishabh Pant to perform a backflip after his century.

(Video) Sunil Gavaskar, Who Called Rishabh Pant’s Shot Selection “Stupid”, Tells Him to Do His Iconic Somersault Celebration After Twin Hundreds

Sunil Gavaskar gestured Rishabh Pant to do his iconic 'somersault' celebration after scoring a hundred, against England. (Image via ECB)

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar had a surprising reaction to Rishabh Pant‘s second century against England on Monday, urging him to perform his signature somersault celebration. This excited remark contrasts with Gavaskar’s prior criticisms of Pant’s ‘stupid’ shot selection in Test cricket. 

Rishabh Pant was at his best once again, after he slammed his eighth international Test century at Headingley in Leeds. The 27-year-old, who was appointed as the Indian Test vice-captain just a month ago, scored his second hundred in the opening Test against England. Pant’s scores of 134 and 118 in the two innings, took his match tally to 252 runs, comprising an impressive 27 boundaries and nine sixes. 

The left-handed shattered several records with his twin centuries, as he now holds the record for the highest match aggregate by a wicket-keeper in a Test match on English soil. Pant’s impressive stroke-play and unorthodox batting style also made him only the second wicket-keeper to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match, joining the likes of Zimbabwean great Andy Flower.

Pant’s hundred against England also helped to steady the ship for the India’s second innings, as he forged a 195-run third wicket stand with opener KL Rahul. An entertainer in his own capacity, it was his century celebration that the crowd at Headingley was waiting for. After getting a single in the 70th over, following which he completed his ton, Pant, unlike his regular demeanour, was a much calm and composed figure.

Pant scurried across the pitch before taking his helmet and gloves off to celebrate the moment, as fans rose in applause. In a heartwarming moment, Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar made an amusing gesture towards Pant from the stands. He urged the young star to do his trademark somersault backflip celebration on the pitch, which he performed after his first innings hundred. 

To this unexpected request, Pant surprisingly replied with a gesture that he would do it ‘later’. Meanwhile, an enthusiastic Gavaskar, after the match, went to label Pant’s hundred as ‘superb’. It was contrary to what the 1983 WC winning legend had opined about the left-handed batter during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After Pant was dismissed while trying to scoop an outside off delivery in the Melbourne Test, Gavaskar immediately labeled it as ‘stupid’ and ‘terrible’. 

Speaking on ABC Radio at that time, Sunil Gavaskar even went on to reprimand Rishabh Pant for letting India down, by ‘throwing away’ his wicket. Months later, however, he seems to have changed his opinion, with Pant having guided India to a formidable position in the first Test match against England. 

Rishabh Pant in Hot Water As He Risks ICC Ban After On-Field Dispute Over Ball Change

Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant is at the risk of facing an ICC ban, over a heated on-field argument with umpire Paul Reiffel over ball change. The incident took place in the 61st over of England’s innings, when Harry Brook and Ben Stokes were on strike for the home side. 

Rishabh Pant ball change incident
Rishabh Pant risks ICC ban, following heated argument with on-field umpire. (via NDTV Sports)

After Mohammed Siraj was hit for a boundary in that over, Rishabh Pant walked up to Reiffel to urge him for a ball change. However, Pant was subsequently denied after the umpire inspected the ball. To this, a frustrated Pant was seen angrily stomping away after slamming the ball onto the ground. The ‘needless’ action seems to have violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for showing dissent.

Should he be penalized by the ICC for his action, the player risks facing a brief one-match ban or a hefty fine. Rishabh Pant could also face a reduction in merit points, as he had not appeared to aim the ball directly at the on-field umpire.