In a surprising and slightly awkward moment during Day 4 of the first Test between England and India at Headingley, Rishabh Pant once again showed his unpredictable nature at the crease. The Indian vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter stunned England pacer Chris Woakes and everyone watching by pulling out of his batting stance at the very last second, just as Woakes was about to deliver the ball.
The incident occurred in the 32nd over of India’s second innings during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Woakes had already begun his bowling action and was moments away from releasing the ball when Pant suddenly backed out without any warning. The unexpected movement clearly disrupted Woakes, creating a moment of confusion and brief tension on the field.
Pant, known for his bold and unorthodox approach, seemed to realize he may have gone too far. In a quick effort to calm the situation, he raised his hand and offered a lighthearted apology to the bowler, saying, “I was not ready. Sorry, Woakesy.” Woakes, to his credit, handled the situation with grace, easing any possible friction.
Though it’s unclear whether Pant’s decision to step away was due to distraction, discomfort, or part of his mind games, the moment quickly caught the attention of fans online. The clip of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with many viewers amused by Pant’s charm and Woakes’ sportsmanlike response.
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While the match itself remains fiercely competitive, moments like these continue to show why Rishabh Pant is one of the most entertaining characters in modern-day Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant completes 150 dismissals in Test cricket
Meanwhile, Team India's vice-captain completed a massive milestone as far as his keeping statistics go, completing 150 dismissals in the format on day 3. The landmark came after Prasidh Krishna got Ollie Pope to nick off for 106. The southpaw took one more catch on day 3 when Stokes edged one off Mohammed Siraj's bowling in the 65th over of the innings.
Despite those two scalps, Harry Brook continued to score freely as the home side went to lunch at 327/5 after beginning at 209/3. The home side were eventually bowled out for 465, whittling down India's lead by 6 runs. India finished day 3 at 90/2, holding a 96-run lead.
