As India returns to The Oval for the 5th Test of the 2025 ENG vs IND series, Pant’s knock naturally surfaces again
The Oval has long been a ground that tests a cricketer's mental strength as much as their skill. In September 2018, Rishabh Pant, just 20 years old and still finding his footing in international cricket, stood tall on one of cricket's most challenging stages.
The fifth Test of the series saw India already 1-3 down, with England pushing hard to end the summer on a high. What unfolded in India's second innings was a coming-of-age innings – Pant's maiden Test hundred – that brightened a bleak scoreboard and offered a weary touring side a flicker of resistance.
England batted first and scored a resilient 332 in their first innings. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma took six wickets between them, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed four, but India's reply was shaky. Virat Kohli's smooth 49 was the only bright spot as India collapsed to 292, conceding a 40-run lead.
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England built on their advantage in the second innings. Alastair Cook, in his farewell Test, scored a commanding 147, while Joe Root added 125. Ravindra Jadeja once again contributed with three wickets, and Hanuma Vihari's part-time off-spin unexpectedly took three wickets too, but England declared at 423/8, leaving India a daunting 464 to chase in the final innings.
India's second innings started disastrously. The top order collapsed like a pack of cards: 1 for 1, 2 for 1, and 3 for 2, with Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, and captain Kohli all back in the pavilion. KL Rahul, however, responded brilliantly, finding the gaps and resisting England's relentless pace-spin combination.
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Enter Rishabh Pant. Still new to the longest format, the young wicketkeeper walked out with India reeling at 121 for 5. By then, Rahul was well set, but India was staring at the possibility of defeat. Pant, however, saw it differently.
Pant's innings was a display of controlled aggression. He combined his signature bravado – reverse sweeps and lofted drives – with notable composure. The English bowlers tried everything: short-pitched spells, tight lines around off-stump, clever variations. But Pant's skill in reading lengths early allowed him to take control.
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He reached his hundred with a splendid drive through the covers, becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in England. His 114 off 146 balls, which included 15 fours and 4 sixes, was as much about perfect timing as it was about mental toughness.
KL Rahul, on the other end, also rose to the occasion with a magnificent 149. Together, the duo built a monumental stand of 204 runs, lifting India from the rubble and forcing England to fight for every wicket.
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But once Rahul fell at 325 for 6, Pant's dismissal shortly after ended India's resistance. The tail folded, and India were bowled out for 345, 118 runs short of the target.
England sealed the series 4-1, but Pant's maiden century ensured the match would be remembered for more than Cook's farewell.
The innings at The Oval wasn't just about the numbers. It demonstrated that Pant could thrive under pressure, unflinching when the team was in dire straits.
