In remarks made to Sky Sports Cricket, Hussain lauded Pant’s exciting performance, mentioning that spectators remained in the stadium even after stumps to see the 27-year-old.
“It’s been an astonishing couple of days from Rishabh Pant. Whether it’s a solid defense or a flamboyant shot, be it the last day of the Test match, the final over of Day 1, the century on Day 2, the celebrations, or even his wicketkeeping, he’s always smiling! Many Indian fans are still here waiting on the ground! Rishabh Pant truly is box office. Everyone enjoys watching this young man play,” Hussain stated.
Seven years into his Test career, Pant has emerged as the most successful wicketkeeper-batter for India in this format. Over 44 matches, he has accumulated 3082 runs with an average of 43.41 and a strike rate of 73.68. With 15 half-centuries and seven centuries to his name, he has also been dismissed for a score of 90 or more on seven occasions, showcasing his capability to endure in the long format of the game.
Pant entered this Test series following a frustrating Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season where he could not lead his team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), into the playoffs.
Nevertheless, he reignited his form in the last match of the league stage, scoring a century against the eventual champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Assigned the role of vice-captain, he took on extra leadership duties, but Pant alleviated that pressure by scoring three figures for the third time in Tests played in England.
