In a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of modern Test cricket, England captain Ben Stokes was seen bursting into laughter after Rishabh Pant fearlessly charged down the pitch and belted him for a straight boundary off just his second delivery during Day 1 of the India vs England 1st Test at Headingley.
Pant, who walked in after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sublime 101, wasted no time asserting his intent. After defending his first ball, the Indian vice-captain stepped out and smashed Stokes over his head for four, drawing a hearty laugh from the England skipper. The two even exchanged a few friendly words, showcasing mutual respect despite the fierce competition.
🏏 A Day of Dominance for India
- India ended Day 1 at 359/3 in 85 overs
- Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 127, marking a century on his Test captaincy debut
- Pant was not out on 65 off 102 balls, bringing up his 3,000th Test run milestone
- The opening stand between KL Rahul (42) and Jaiswal (101) laid a solid foundation
Stokes, who had earlier dismissed debutant Sai Sudharsan and centurion Jaiswal, continued to bowl a probing spell, but Pant’s fearless approach kept England on the back foot.
“No pacer likes being hit like that, but Stokes laughed it off—classic Bazball spirit,” noted a commentator during the broadcast.
Stay tuned for Day 2 action from the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
