IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant's Composed Reply Stifles Harry Brook's Sledging Attempt in Second Test

During the second innings of the Edgbaston Test, Rishabh Pant masterfully handled England's attempt to unsettble him.

Rishabh Pant acknowledges the crowd after reaching his half-century.

As Rishabh Pant began to dominate the game, Harry Brook tried to get into his head with some well-timed sledging. During his quickfire half-century, Brook baited Pant with a question. "What's your fastest hundred?" he asked.

Pant, however, remained composed. He responded, “In Test cricket, maybe 80–90 minutes,” referring to the measured tempo of his previous centuries.

Brook then referenced his own explosive hitting. “The fastest hundred I’ve hit was in 55 balls—you could do that today,” he said, suggesting that Pant should take a riskier approach.

Unfazed, Pant replied coolly: “It’s okay. I’m not too greedy for records. If it happens, it happens.”

After scoring 25 in the first innings, Pant went on to deliver an entertaining, counter-attacking and crucial 65 in 58 balls, including eight fours and three sixes.

In 28 SENA Tests, Pant has scored 2,023 runs at an average of 41.28, including six centuries and six fifties in 52 innings with a best score of 159*.

In this series, Pant is the second-highest run-getter, with 342 runs in four innings at an average of 85.00 and a strike rate of 81.81, including two centuries and a fifty. His best score is 134.

Pant's 65 came off 58 balls and included eight fours and three sixes. He formed a 110-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Gill.

Gill followed up his splendid 269 in the first innings with another massive knock of 161, which came off 162 balls with 13 fours and eight sixes.

Jadeja remained unbeaten on 69 (118 balls, five fours and one six) while adding another 175 runs in a brisk partnership for the fifth wicket with the Indian skipper.

India, who resumed the fourth day’s play at 64 for one, had lost KL Rahul (55) and Karun Nair (26) in the first session.