Starting the day at 359-3, India captain Shubman Gill swiftly surpassed his highest Test score, marking the second-highest by a captain in their first match abroad, with Pant’s support adding to the excitement.
Pant’s sweeping and scooping style delighted fans, often finding him on his knees as he reached his seventh Test century with a six into the crowd, celebrated with an impressive forward somersault.
Gill also aimed to accelerate the scoring but was caught at the boundary attempting another maximum by Josh Tongue, finishing on 147, with Shoaib Bashir claiming his first wicket, having been the cause of much of Pant’s success.
Karun Nair, making his Test return for India since 2017, didn’t last long as Ollie Pope executed a stunning diving catch off the bowling of captain Ben Stokes, with Nair departing for just four balls without scoring.
Pant ultimately fell, trapped leg before wicket by Tongue for 134, before England’s dependable Stokes struck again on the final ball before lunch, dismissing Shardul Thakur, who managed just one run, giving home supporters renewed optimism for the afternoon session.
