Rishabh Pant has always been a cricketing enigma, a player who defies norms and scripts his own audacious narratives. At Headingley, Leeds, during the latest IND vs ENG Test series, Pant once again showcased why his romance with the No. 5 batting position is a match made in cricketing heaven. This isn’t just a positional preference; it’s a love story that began back in 2016 and continues to blossom with every swashbuckling innings.
Flashback to the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season, a young Pant, barely 19, approached his then Delhi head coach KP Bhaskar with a bold request—to bat at No. 5. Bhaskar, testing the youngster’s resolve, demanded runs in return. Pant not only accepted the challenge but obliterated it, amassing a staggering 972 runs that season, including four centuries (one a triple hundred) and two fifties. This breakthrough campaign laid the foundation for Pant’s unwavering connection with the pivotal batting slot, offering him the perfect stage to balance aggression with responsibility.
Fast forward to 2023 at Headingley, and Pant’s affinity for No. 5 has only deepened. Ahead of the series, his clarity about batting positions—his preference for No. 5 and Shubman Gill’s at No. 3—reflected a mature thought process within the Indian dressing room. The result? A breathtaking 134 off 178 balls in the first innings, an innings laced with 12 boundaries and 6 towering sixes. It wasn’t just the numbers; it was the sheer audacity of his stroke play that left spectators and opponents alike in awe.
Every Pant innings feels like an adventure—unpredictable, exhilarating, and often heart-stopping. Whether he’s losing his bat, balance, or even a shoe mid-shot, the runs keep coming. Teammates like Gill have learned to expect the unexpected. During his knock, as Pant neared the 90s, Gill cheekily asked, ‘Will you run after hitting straight? I’ll stay ready.’ Pant’s response was classic: ‘No, I won’t play straight,’ before dispatching England spinner Shoaib Bashir into the stands with disdain. Even England’s Joe Root and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith could only manage wry smiles as Pant, unfazed by field placements, slog-swept Bashir for another maximum.
Pant’s unorthodox brilliance has earned praise from legends. Commentator Ravi Shastri dubbed one of his shots the ‘falling paddle sweep,’ while the great Sachin Tendulkar lauded its intelligence on social media platform X: ‘Rishabh’s falling paddle sweep is intentional and extremely clever. It allows him to scoop the ball over leg slip with control.’ Tendulkar’s words underscore Pant’s rare blend of innovation and cricketing acumen.
His 7th Test hundred, sealed with a one-handed six over mid-on, was a spectacle in itself, followed by a celebratory somersault that electrified the Headingley crowd. Pant’s ability to deflate opposition attacks in a single session—be it through a daring scoop or ducking a bouncer with flair—sets him apart as a one-of-a-kind talent. Statistically, Pant now averages over 45 in Tests at No. 5, with multiple match-defining knocks, a testament to how this position unlocks his best.
As this English summer unfolds, Pant, with renewed clarity and cemented in his favorite No. 5 spot, seems poised to emulate the magic of his 2016 domestic season. For fans, every ball he faces is an event, and every knock a box-office blockbuster. Rishabh Pant isn’t just playing cricket; he’s redefining it—one outrageous shot at a time. Will this series witness more chapters in his extraordinary saga? Only time, and Pant’s fearless bat, will tell.