Watch: Sunil Gavaskar urges twin centurion Rishabh Pant for somersault celebration

Rishabh Pant lit up Headingley not as soon as, however twice. The India vice-captain scored his second century of the match on Day 4 of the Headingley Check towards England on June 23 — and whereas the cricketing world stood as much as applaud the historic feat, one man had only one demand:
“Do the flip once more!”

That man was Sunil Gavaskar.

The India legend, watching from the commentary field, was all smiles as Pant raised his bat after bringing up a surprising 130-ball hundred within the second innings. The gang roared, teammates applauded, and Gavaskar — like a real fan — was seen gesturing animatedly from the stands, asking Pant to convey out his now-iconic entrance flip celebration, which he had carried out after his first-innings century.

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However Pant, all the time the entertainer, had different plans.

As an alternative of flipping, he cheekily responded with the favored “finger-eye” celebration, made well-known by former England footballer Dele Alli — a transparent signal that the flip was being saved for later.

Pant turned simply the second wicketkeeper in Check cricket historical past — after Andy Flower — to attain centuries in each innings of a Check. His first-innings 134 was adopted up by a masterful 118, earlier than he was ultimately dismissed by Shoaib Bashir. The knock additionally gave him his seventh Check hundred, probably the most by an Indian wicketkeeper.

Only a few deliveries earlier, India opener KL Rahul had introduced up a trendy, composed century of his personal — and his 195-run stand with Pant firmly strengthened India’s lead over England because the match headed into its decisive last part.

– Ends