- July 3, 2025
There’s nothing quite like when a player is considered a little bit special. It’s usually at that point where it even links to the other team’s captain becoming a fan of the player. England’s skipper Ben Stokes cut right through some of the pre-Test formalities in the lead-up to the second Test between England and India at Edgbaston, responding with great passion to a question about India’s rogue wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Quite frankly, it’s hard not to fall in love with the chaotic and exhilarating style of cricket played by Pant, regardless of whether you are Indian, English, or just a cricket romantic.
Wired for Mayhem – The Rishabh Pant Way of Batting
Rishabh Pant is not your everyday batter. He is not making centuries by nudging, blocking, or grinding runs. He is making centuries by exploding in the game. In the Leeds Test match, while most of India’s batting line-up was melting under pressure from England, Pant thrived twice!
It is not just about the runs; it is the manner he made them. At times, the England bowlers looked like they were playing in a T20 while everyone else was playing in a red-ball grind. Pant was playing freely with Anderson, Wood, and even Root, the same way he plays in the IPL’s slog.
Stokes called this exact thing out in his presser: “When you let a talent like that loose, you saw what happens”. That has become evident in India’s team management, allowing Pant the freedom of expression, turning him from a wild card into a match-winner, and arguably India’s most dangerous weapon in this series.
The Respect from the Rival Camp Is Real
It’s remarkable for an opponent’s captain to openly commend the player doing the most damage to his team. Stokes could have gone the safer route with a standard “he’s in form” line. He instead said Pant is “very dangerous” and added, “I love watching him play.”
This is a massive compliment, especially when you think about the fact that Pant now has the record for Test hundreds as an Indian keeper, getting ahead of MS Dhoni.
For England, Pant isn’t just a menace; they know that they are a potential game-changer every time he walks to the crease. “On a different day, it could’ve looked different if one of them had gone straight up to the hand,” as Stokes pointed out. That’s the chaos Pant brings; you are never really safe, no matter how well you’re bowling.
Beyond the Bat – Why Pant’s Presence Matters
While Pant’s stroke play creates much of the hype, his overall presence is what makes him integral to India’s Test structure. His exuberance behind the stumps, his free-thinking approach, and his almost unique capacity to change the momentum of a session make him more valuable than even just a batter.
Sure, he shelled a golden chance off Harry Brook in the first Test — but hey, name a keeper who hasn’t worn the gloves and fumbled a sitter at some point. What stands out is the way Pant responds to those rare moments. He is extremely unlikely to stay on the mat. You would always think that the mental resilience of Pant is extremely high, especially for someone so high-risk and flamboyant.
Stokes seems to know it. His admiration is not necessarily because of runs or highlights, it’s about the energy Pant brings into the game. It is pure, unbridled cricketing elation.
So here is a thought—are more captains able to be this open with their admiration for their opponent? Or is this special connection an isolated incident that is solely part of the Pant-Stokes respect story? Please let us know in the comments.
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
