IND vs ENG: Gautam Gambhir Under Fire After Rishabh Pant’s ‘Brainfade’ Dismissal at Headingley
In a thrilling yet controversial moment during the first Test between India and England at Headingley, Rishabh Pant stole the show with a breathtaking century, only to face a bizarre dismissal that has sparked intense debate about head coach Gautam Gambhir‘s tactics. Pant’s innings of 134 not only surpassed MS Dhoni‘s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter but also entertained a packed Leeds crowd with his signature flair—complete with a crowd-pleasing somersault celebration.
However, the euphoria was short-lived. In the 108th over, England pacer Josh Tongue delivered an inswinging ball that Pant inexplicably left alone, resulting in the ball striking his pad near the knee roll. Replays confirmed it was crashing into middle and leg stump, ending Pant’s masterful knock. What followed was a wave of criticism, not just for Pant’s lapse in judgment—termed a ‘brainfade’ by many—but for a potential intervention from the Indian dressing room that might have curbed his natural, aggressive style.
Commentator and former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, speaking on Sky Sports, pointed fingers at a possible message from the coaching staff, led by Gambhir. “When a message was sent out to Rishabh Pant, it seemed to curb his carefree stroke-making. For certain players, telling them to calm down just doesn’t work. As a coach, understanding how to communicate—the tone, the language—is critical to getting the best out of a batter like Pant,” Karthik remarked. He suggested that a different approach might be needed for a player of Pant’s caliber, known for his unorthodox yet effective batting style that has often turned matches in India’s favor.
Pant’s century was a cornerstone of India’s imposing first-innings total of 471, alongside stellar contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, both of whom also notched up centuries with scores of 108 and 147, respectively. Yet, the Indian innings took a dramatic nosedive on Day 2, with a collapse that saw the last seven wickets fall for just 41 runs. In a chaotic final 30 minutes of the first session, India lost Pant (134), Gill (147), Karun Nair (0), and Shardul Thakur (1), handing England’s bowlers—led by Tongue and captain Ben Stokes, who claimed four wickets each—a chance to claw back into the game.
The match began with Stokes winning the toss and opting to bowl first under overcast conditions at Headingley, a decision that initially seemed to backfire as India’s top order dominated. Pant’s aggressive intent was on full display as he dismantled England’s bowling attack, hitting 14 fours and 4 sixes in his 134-run knock off just 167 balls, showcasing why he’s regarded as one of the most destructive wicketkeeper-batters in modern cricket. His partnership with Gill was particularly pivotal, adding 154 runs for the fifth wicket and putting India in a commanding position before the late collapse.
The spotlight, however, remains on Gambhir, whose tenure as head coach has already faced scrutiny in this series opener. With Pant’s dismissal raising questions about coaching communication and tactical decisions, fans and experts alike are debating whether Pant was asked to rein in his natural game at a crucial juncture. As Karthik noted, “Maybe with Rishabh Pant, it needs to be a different way to get things done.” This incident underscores the delicate balance coaches must strike when managing maverick talents like Pant, whose instincts have often been India’s trump card in challenging situations—be it his heroics at Gabba in 2021 or his match-winning knocks in England during the 2022 tour.
As the match progresses, India’s batting collapse and England’s resurgence with the ball have set up an intriguing contest. While the visitors still hold a strong position thanks to their formidable first-innings total, the vulnerability shown in losing wickets in clusters could embolden England. For now, all eyes remain on Gambhir and how he navigates coaching a side brimming with talent yet prone to dramatic swings in momentum. Will this incident be a learning curve for the new coach, or will it fuel further criticism? Only time—and the remaining days of this Test—will tell.