Harry Brook’s impressive 99 against India at Headingley showcased a blend of maturity and audacity. The Yorkshire batter’s innings, marked by resilience and flair, helped England approach a 400-run total. Despite falling short of a century, Brook’s compelling duel with Bumrah earned respect and highlighted his game awareness, solidifying his status as a key player.
Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance was almost game-changing, but a crucial dropped catch off Harry Brook proved costly, triggering visible frustration from captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir. Despite multiple dropped catches, Bumrah’s class remains unquestioned, with Ravi Shastri hailing him as India’s best-ever fast bowler.
Sourav Ganguly revealed VVS Laxman’s disappointment after being excluded from India’s 2003 World Cup squad, leading to a three-month silence between them. Ganguly admitted the decision, favouring Dinesh Mongia, caused a rift, despite Laxman’s ODI record. Although controversial, Laxman returned post-World Cup, proving his value in subsequent series, and Ganguly emphasized the decision wasn’t personal, as India reached the final.
Rishabh Pant silenced his critics, including Sunil Gavaskar, with a remarkable century against England at Headingley, marking his seventh Test century and surpassing MS Dhoni’s record for an Indian wicketkeeper. Pant attributed his success to hard work, focus, and disciplined adjustments to his game, showcasing his improved shot selection and mental approach after a mixed IPL season.
Rishabh Pant, known for his calm demeanor, displayed rare frustration during the Headingley Test when an umpire denied his request to change the ball. Despite the incident, Pant’s batting prowess shone as he surpassed Rohit Sharma to become India’s leading six-hitter in the World Test Championship.
Ravi Shastri has declared Jasprit Bumrah as India’s best-ever fast bowler, even surpassing Kapil Dev, highlighting his ability to dismantle any opposition across formats. Shastri compared Bumrah’s skill in reading batsmen to that of Malcolm Marshall, noting his improved swing with the new ball.
Rishabh Pant marked his Test century at Headingley with a memorable somersault, revealing he had other celebrations in mind. His explosive century off 146 balls, including 4 sixes, powered India past 400, aided by a 209-run partnership with Shubman Gill. Pant’s return from injury has been remarkable, highlighted by this viral celebration.
India and England cricketers honored David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, the former England fast bowler, with black armbands. A moment of applause was observed before the start of play at Headingley. Lawrence, who passed away at 61, was remembered for his contributions to cricket. He was the first British-born Black player to represent England.
Shubman Gill’s exuberant celebration after a near dismissal of Joe Root sparked commentary box comparisons to Virat Kohli. Despite the overturned decision, Gill marked his Test captaincy debut with a century, joining an elite list of Indian players. He also reached 2,000 Test runs, mirroring Kohli’s achievement in his captaincy debut.
Sourav Ganguly has firmly dismissed any interest in entering politics, but remains open to coaching the Indian cricket team in the future. While praising current coach Gautam Gambhir’s passion and straightforward approach, Ganguly emphasized the importance of giving Gambhir time to grow in the role.