Rishabh Pant played one of his most memorable innings in Test cricket on Friday to help India pull out of danger and post a fighting first innings total. The stumper counter-attacked the English bowlers and scored 146 runs from 111 balls to give India much-needed momentum.

The 24-year-old keeper pulled India out of danger and helped them post a first-innings total of 416. The left-handed batter scored his fifth Test century on the opening day of the one-off Test (5th rescheduled Test of the 2021 Test series). He faced 111 balls and, with the help of 20 fours and 4 sixes, amassed a total of 146 runs.

Rishabh Pant Is The Brian Lara Of Wicketkeepers: Rashid Latif

It was his third Test century against the English side and he made sure that India gained an upper hand. Rishabh Pant took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners and smashed them all around the ground to shift the momentum quickly in India’s favour.

His counter-attacking knock on Friday evening earned him a lot of applause from all corners of the world. Impressed by his heroics, former Pakistani skipper Rashid Latif has reserved high praise for him. The 53-year-old lauded the youngster and went on to say that he is the “Brian Lara of wicketkeepers.”

“He’s the Brian Lara of wicketkeepers. This match is taking place in Birmingham, the same place where Brian Lara scored 501 for Warwickshire. Pant has shown glimpses of that today. Pant has limited foot movement, but he can pick the ball really well,” Latif said on his official YouTube channel.

Four of Rishabh Pant’s Test hundreds have been scored in England (Oval and Edgbaston), Australia (SCG), and South Africa (Newlands). Rishabh Pant scored his fifth Test hundred in just 89 balls registering the fastest Test hundred by an Indian keeper, breaking the record of MS Dhoni, who scored his century in 93 balls against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 2006.

Rishabh Pant arrived at the crease after India was reduced to 98 for 5. The visitors needed someone to spend time in the middle and anchor the innings. While the wicketkeeper-batter kept hammering from one end, his partner Ravindra Jadeja backed him in the best possible way by not taking any risk and playing big shots whenever required.

Brian Lara holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, ^{which is the only quintuple hundred in first-class cricket history. Brian Lara also holds the record for the highest individual score in a Test innings after scoring 400 not out at Antigua during the 4th test against England in 2004.}

Rashid Latif Praised Ravindra Jadeja For Complementing Rishabh Pant

The former Pakistan keeper said Rishabh Pant took his chances and counter-attacked the opposition bowlers. He was also effusive in praise for Rishabh Pant’s batting partner Ravindra Jadeja, who complimented him well during the 222-run stand for the sixth wicket.

“He let the ball come to him. The 2-3 shots that he played towards midwicket against fast bowlers were outstanding. He played calculative cricket. England tried to put pressure on with four slips and a gully, which meant there weren’t enough fielders outside. So, he took his chances,” said Latif.

“I would also credit Jadeja there. Normally, at such times, you can lose your partner at the other end. But he complimented him brilliantly.”

While Rishabh Pant was sent back to the dugout by Joe Root for 146 on the first day, Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 83 and went on to complete his century on Saturday. Thanks to the duo’s record innings, India posted a first-innings total of 416 runs in the first innings.