Resuming the innings with skipper Shubman Gill, the pair maintained a steady yet aggressive stance against the English bowlers.
Pant achieved his century off 146 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. Gill, at the other end, also approached the 150-run mark as the England bowlers struggled to make a breakthrough. With this landmark, Pant surpassed MS Dhoni’s record of six Test centuries, becoming the Indian wicketkeeper with the highest number of Test hundreds.
Pant has a strong batting record in England, accumulating 556 runs from 9 Tests at an average of 32.70, featuring two centuries and two fifties.
“When coming to England, you need to play a bit side-on, which really benefits your game. That’s a fundamental technical adjustment I’ve made; beyond that, it’s mostly a mindset shift,” he added.
This time, the left-hander is starting the series as vice-captain, and Pant stated that this added responsibility hasn’t altered his usual thought process.
“I’m in a good mental space. It’s an extra responsibility, but when you’re out there, you don’t think, ‘Oh! I’m the vice-captain or a senior player.’ You are just a batsman focused on doing your best for the team.
“I haven’t changed my mindset. I have more authority now, but I’m not overthinking it.” Pant mentioned that he aims to share his experiences from previous tours in England with the younger players in the squad.
“It’s part of my role to impart my knowledge and experiences to newcomers but without overly focusing on the senior aspect.
“You still have to play the game and continue learning as an individual while helping those around you; that’s how I approach it,” he added.
The wicketkeeper-batsman recognizes that the Dukes ball can heavily favor bowlers in gloomy conditions but assured that the team is ready for such challenges.
“One thing that really helped me when coming to England was playing close to the body since the Dukes ball tends to swing a lot, especially depending on the weather.
“In sunny weather, it’s more manageable, but in overcast conditions, it swings significantly, even on a good pitch. As cricketers, we always aim to play the red ball close to the body and as late as possible,” he added.
The 27-year-old anticipates a green-tinged pitch at Headingley for the first Test.
“The wicket appears quite green; however, considering we are in England, a green pitch isn’t surprising. We’ve prepared for it, and both teams will have to play on the same surface. Ultimately, the team that plays better cricket will prevail.” Pant noted that the India A practice games before the Test series have provided ample red-ball experience for the entire squad.
India A played two four-day matches against the England Lions and also had an intra-squad match involving senior team members.
“We had significant practice time, which is crucial as it’s closer to match conditions. We completed our volume in London, which was vital for us. Now, as we return to Headingley, our focus will be on how to approach the game,” Pant remarked. He acknowledged that the retirement of veteran players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin has created a notable void in the Indian lineup, but the team has arrived in England with a positive outlook.
“It’s a new beginning for us; certainly, some influential players have moved on. While there will be gaps, we see this as an opportunity to create a new culture or build upon the existing one.
“We’re eager to share knowledge, foster care and camaraderie in the dressing room, and that’s a focus for us.” Pant expressed that the current Indian team is not preoccupied with past records or the fact that they haven’t won a Test series in England since 2007.
“Our approach is straightforward: play positive cricket while respecting conditions. Our goal is to win this series. That’s the mindset we embrace. We’re not just recognizing that we’re a young team; our dialogues revolve around winning this match, the series, and ensuring everyone contributes.
“It’s about the team’s success rather than individual accolades. Ultimately, if the team wins, everyone benefits. That’s the mentality we aim to carry forward,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
